NBA teams have been handing out eye-opening checks to second and third string centers since free agency began. Rather than test the open market and hope to join them, Jericho Sims elected to remain with the Milwaukee Bucks by opting into his $2.8 million contract for next season. With all of the cash being thrown around, that looks like a massive win for the Bucks.
Sims returns for cheap while others get paid
Let's look at some of the money second or third string centers have gotten over the last few days. Jusuf Nurkic got a two-year, $22 million deal. Mortiz Wagner got two years and $19 million. Jaxson Hayes will collect $12 million over the next two years. Those are all at least mildly productive pieces, but they will cost their teams significantly more than Sims will.
The big man saw an inconsistent role to begin the season, but after the All-Star break, he earned his keep and never let up. In 28 contests to close the year, he averaged 6.8 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per contest. That type of productivity on a minimum contract was a welcoming boost to the Bucks, and he can now do it again this coming season.
In fact, if the Milwaukee Bucks make further tweaks to the frontcourt, Sims could be an even more impactful piece.
Bucks still have questions in the frontcourt
Sims was a strong rotational piece last season while sharing minutes with Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bobby Portis, Kyle Kuzma, and Myles Turner. Now, Antetokounmpo and Portis are gone, while Turner and Kuzma remain firmly in rumors. If the Bucks keep sending out veterans, Sims could earn himself an even greater opportunity and build off his strong finish to last season.
In no world will Sims be Milwaukee's starter. If Turner is there, he will start. If he is traded, Kel'el Ware—the prized youngster from the Giannis trade—will be the starter. That's fine. Sims is best suited to be a bench piece, allowing the starter to catch their breath while he provides excellent rebounding, interior scoring, and defense.
Sims might not be a needle-mover for the Milwaukee Bucks, but he can undeniably help, especially at his current financial figure. He should be a crucial cog in the frontcourt no matter what direction the Bucks go in the rest of this hectic NBA offseason.
Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis.
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