The Milwaukee Bucks' flurry of offseason moves has buried another storyline significant for the future of the roster. Now heading into year four, guard AJ Green will be a free agent at the end of the season, and extension talks around the developing sniper have been quiet. If the Bucks don't get a deal done by early next season, they could be in for awkward times ahead.
Bucks have a rotation piece in Green with starter potential
Green showed substantial growth in his third season. Doubling his minutes, he boosted his numbers across the board and shot a career-high 42.7 percent from distance. He upped his attempts to five per game, proving that he can contribute in more than just a fringe role.
Green also demonstrated solid durability, an important trait for a role player. On an offense built around the gravity of Giannis Antetokounmpo, his bullseye marksmanship is a seamless fit. He finished among the top 10 most efficient catch-and-shooters and contributed to a Bucks stable of snipers that led the league in 3-point percentage.
If he develops his ball-handling skills and his shot off the bounce, and continues working on his defensive game, he can be a borderline starter. In the playoffs, he rose to the occasion while fellow rotation pieces Taurean Prince and Kyle Kuzma fell hard.
Already getting major minutes before his promotion, Green started the final game of Milwaukee's first round defeat. A ghost in Game 2, he averaged 13.8 points the rest of the series on a blistering 52.9 percent from deep.
2025-26 will be the last year of his rookie contract, spanning three seasons and $6.3 million. Having proven himself as a serviceable role player, he will be looking for more than that in his next deal. The Bucks can ensure he doesn't reach the open market by signing him to an extension before the end of the upcoming season.
Ideally, they would have already done so. Of course, now that they have the roster nearly set, with a clearer picture of their future finances, Milwaukee has nearly a year to do so before he enters free agency. Not only has Green contributed on the court, he's a fan favorite. Holding onto him would benefit the franchise in more ways than one.
At the same time, if negotiations stall and the Bucks reach the trade deadline with Green still unextended, they'll have to at least consider including him in a trade for someone who would boost their stretch run and playoff ceiling. Otherwise, they risk losing him for nothing; moreover, the modest contract he will likely command now could become a trade asset later.
As long as the two sides can reach a reasonable deal, it would be better to get it done before other teams can start making offers next summer, further increasing his price tag.