The Milwaukee Bucks were linked to countless big-name free agents this summer but did not come away with any of them. Though that dims excitement for the moment, as a deal for someone such as Jalen Duren could have been exciting, it does give the team a reason to be eager for next summer, given that they are projected to have quite a bit of cap space to spend after maintaining flexibility.
Bucks could have money to spend next summer
Spotrac's Keith Smith recently projected the eight teams that could have a lot of spending money in the 2027 offseason. The Milwaukee Bucks came in sixth on the list, projected to have $46.5 million in cap space. Only the Brooklyn Nets, Chicago Bulls, LA Clippers, Golden State Warriors, and Memphis Grizzlies are projected to have more. That should be a useful asset to the Bucks next offseason.
While Milwaukee will have plenty of free agents of its own to worry about, including Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Tyler Herro, there will also be an assortment of external talent worth looking into next year. If the Bucks want to make a splash next summer like they tried this summer, they will have flexibility that they would have lacked if they had pounced now.
A potential silver lining for down the road next summer.
Bucks need to figure out who fits where first
Before they worry about any external players, the Milwaukee Bucks must first evaluate who should be included in their long-term plans. As mentioned, Jaquez and Herro are slated to test the market, while Ryan Rollins and Kevin Porter Jr. may also hit it. Kyle Kuzma and Caris LeVert will be playing for their future as well. A lot is at stake with Milwaukee's upcoming free agent class.
Once the Milwaukee Bucks sort out who they want to keep and who should walk, they should then evaluate the market for players who complement them. If more established players take leaps, the young players grow, and this team can bring in help from the outside, the Bucks could work their way back into the playoff picture sooner rather than later.
Players like Jalen Duren, Jonathan Kuminga, Bennedict Mathurin, or Peyton Watson might have been nice additions, but missing out on them isn't the end of the world. Depending on how the Milwaukee Bucks use their cap space, it could be a blessing in disguise.
Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis.
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