With just a few weeks to go until the 2023-24 NBA season, the Milwaukee Bucks roster is all but set after the team used its fifteenth and final slot in favor of Thanasis Antetokounmpo over all other available free agents.
As any fan knows, though, nothing is ever set in stone in this league. For teams with championship aspirations, everyone save for two or three names is considered moveable. Questions about the roster construction are valid and continue to swirl with the lack of a true backup point guard to keep the offense afloat when Jrue Holiday sits. This, while a litany of other competent options for that position was still available for the taking either in the trade market or in free agency.
The reality in this league is that opportunities are limited, and not everyone is going to find themselves on an NBA roster by the time the regular season comes around. But that doesn’t mean those left aren’t worth the chance.
And eager to take their places are swarms of legitimately capable NBA veterans who remain unsigned. There are fringe All-Stars, established role players, and scrappy young guys up for the taking. Even a few former Milwaukee Bucks remain unsigned in free agency.
For the Bucks, their roster situation could still very much change ahead of the trade deadline. Free agents are also still waiting for opportunities to land on any NBA team willing to take a chance on them. Here are a few free agents who are still available and who might be worth taking a shot at if the Bucks ever find themselves with a free roster spot at any point in the regular season.
Available free agents who might be worth a second look for the Bucks later on: No. 1 – P.J. Dozier
At one point, P.J. Dozier looked like he was poised to be the next great glue guy for the Denver Nuggets pre-Bruce Brown acquisition. It obviously didn’t work out that way, but that’s not to say he didn’t give us any reason to be at the very least intrigued by what he brought to the table.
Dozier last played just 16 games for the Sacramento Kings in the 2022-2023 NBA season. He averaged just 1.7 points and less than one of every other box score statistic. He also shot a wildly inefficient 30.3 percent from the field and 12.5 percent from 3-point range. It’s his biggest weakness: his offensive game still has not rounded out very well since he entered the league in 2017. He’s playing for the EuroLeague these days but would definitely be up for a return to the league in the future.
When he played 21.8 minutes per game for the Denver Nuggets, though, he did average 7.7 points per game in the 2020-21 season. During that campaign, he also held opponents to -9.3 points per 100 possession when he was on the floor versus when he was off it, which is good for the 96th percentile among players in his position according to Cleaning the Glass.
Dozier is a versatile player who can play both guard and forward positions. He is a good defender and rebounder, and he can also create his own shot. However, he is not a great shooter, and he needs to improve his ball-handling skills. In a nutshell, he’s all the wings on the Bucks roster not named Khris Middleton.
According to Cleaning the Glass (Subscription required), opposing teams had a 52.6 effective field goal percentage in the minutes that Dozier played. That outcome puts him firmly in the 84th percentile in that statistic among other players in his position.
To this day, Dozier’s elite set of physical tools should make him at the very least worth a second look over all other available free agents. The Bucks look like they’re going all-in on the big wing archetype to make scoring hell for opposing offenses, and with Dozier’s 6-foot-6 frame, he certainly fits that bill. If the Bucks ever find themselves in need of yet another utility guy to do everything at a serviceable level, they could do a lot worse than P.J. Dozier.
Available free agents who might be worth a second look for the Bucks later on: No. 2 – T.J. Warren
A talented scorer, T.J. Warren may not receive as much attention from organizations due to his previous history of injuries. He has in the past shown the clear ability to create his own shot off the dribble with confidence and consistency on top of being a relatively competent long-range shooter who can light it up in a hurry. Standing at 6-foot-8, Warren is also a strong defender who can cover a variety of positions.
The thing is, Warren’s 2023 campaign was unsuccessful for the most part even after what was supposed to be a full recovery from his past injuries. He only participated in four games for Phoenix, scoring just 4.2 points per contest on 42.9 percent field goal shooting and 31.6 percent 3-point shooting efficiency. He suffered from ailments as well, missing the remainder of a season due to a foot problem. It’s clear his initial injuries have left him shaken up with lasting effects, and what’s not clear is whether or not he’ll be able to shake this off and return to his old self.
Warren’s season was a far cry from his 19.8 points per game average season of 2020–21. When healthy, he has proven to be capable of great things. His 53-point outburst during the NBA bubble is still not that far off, and though he hasn’t reached those highs again, that kind of skill just doesn’t go away that easily.
What Warren’s future holds is not yet known. Although he has sustained numerous injuries recently, he is still a talented player. If he wants to bounce back to his fringe-star form from the 2020 bubble, he must maintain his health.
And perhaps the best place to start would be with Milwaukee in a low-cost prove-it contract.
Available free agents who might be worth a second look for the Bucks later on: No. 3 – Romeo Langford
Romeo Langford is a 6-foot-6, 220-pound shooting guard who plays with a combination of athleticism, length, and skill. He is an aggressive scorer who can get to the rim off the dribble or shoot from midrange and beyond the arc. He is also a good defender with a long wingspan and the ability to switch to multiple positions.
Langford’s last season in the NBA was a bit of a mixed bag. He started the season with the Boston Celtics, but he was eventually traded to the San Antonio Spurs. In 43 games for the Spurs, he averaged 6.9 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game. He shot 46.7 percent from the field and 26.2 percent from 3-point range, which really isn’t numbers to write home about.
Langford’s biggest strength is his athleticism. He is a quick and explosive player who can get to the rim in a hurry. He also has a good midrange game and can shoot the 3-pointer. However, Langford is still a developing player, and he has some weaknesses in his game. He can be inconsistent with his shot, and he can be turnover-prone. He also needs to improve his defense and his ability to create for others.
Overall, Langford is a talented player with a lot of potential. He has the tools to be a good scorer and defender in the NBA, but he needs to continue to develop his game. If he can do that, he has the potential to be a valuable player for a playoff team.
Available free agents who might be worth a second look for the Bucks later on: No. 4 – Stanley Johnson
From the very start of this offseason, Stanley Johnson was one of the more under-the-radar highlights of this free agency class for this writer. Given his still-high upside and generally solid production over the past few seasons of his career, it’s certainly surprising he’s entering the season without a team to call on.
Johnson is a strong, flexible wing who can stop the ball at both wing positions. He still has some offensive potential and is a solid rebounder and defender. He might be a useful piece for the Bucks if they can get him with the few resources they have available.
His numbers generally don’t jump out the stats sheet, but this writer has always been high on his clear defensive impact. Johnson played in 30 games for the Spurs, averaging 5.8 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in 15.7 minutes per game. In the 425 minutes that Johnson played for San Antonio as opposed to when he was on the bench, opponents shot 4.4 effective field goal percentage points fewer according to statistics on Cleaning the Glass. Interestingly, Johnson played center the majority of the time with the Spurs, only playing small forward in 11 percent of his minutes.
It would be dishonest to ignore the fact that Johnson has, for the most part, had difficulty securing regular playing time throughout his career. Everywhere he has gone, he has been asked to perform entirely different tasks, to fill a number of responsibilities on a squad, and to play in a range of situations. He has however demonstrated the ability to develop into a reliable role player in the NBA.
Johnson’s reputation as not being the finest shooter or ball-handler is one explanation for this. But most recently, while playing for the San Antonio Spurs, Stanley had a decent 45.0 percent shooting percentage while only getting 1.3 shots per game.
For the world of promise he’s shown throughout his career thus far, he’ll still be available to start the season. Johnson was selected by the Pistons with the eighth overall pick in the 2015 NBA draft, but has found himself playing for the Sioux Falls Skyforce of the NBA G-League as of late.
This is just to say that he’s a journeyman still chipping away for a place in this league. This means he is a free agent and would likely be willing to sign a minimum contract. The 6-foot-7 forward is also still just 26 years old as of this writing.
Available free agents who might be worth a second look for the Bucks later on: No. 5 – Justise Winslow
After his 2022-23 season was cut short due to an ankle injury, Justise Winslow remains an unrestricted free agent. For the Portland Trail Blazers, he appeared in 29 games, averaging 6.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game. He made 40.9 percent of his shots from the field and 31.1 percent of his 3-point attempts. The Milwaukee Bucks should take a look at him.
Winslow is an all-around player who can defend, rebound, pass, and shoot. He stands 6-foot-6 and could provide depth on the wing for the Bucks. His injury history, on the other hand, is cause for alarm. If the Milwaukee Bucks were to sign him, it will be on a trial basis.
The Bucks are in desperate need of a player like Winslow, who is 6-foot-6 and is a hybrid defender. Winslow could provide wing depth and possibly tertiary playmaking skills to help the core Milwaukee Bucks Big 3 shoulder part of the offensive burden.
However, Winslow’s injury issues have plagued him throughout his career. He has missed substantial time in each of the previous three seasons, and teams may be hesitant to give him another deal to play a larger role. But it’s worth noting that the Milwaukee Bucks previously took a gamble on an injured rival in Joe Ingles, and that deal paid off very well overall.
These are just a few of the available free agents still waiting for their next landing spot. A cursory glance of the full list on Spotrac should tell you all you need to know about how limited the opportunities are in a league as unforgiving as the NBA.
Just because the Milwaukee Bucks roster is full doesn’t mean the front office is done making moves. General manager Jon Horst had a well-documented interest in a slew of other players, including rising combo guard Collin Sexton. If the Bucks do decide to trade a few players for Collin, some more opportunities on their roster are sure to open up.
Stay tuned for more analysis on the Milwaukee Bucks roster as the regular season starts.