The Milwaukee Bucks need to find a hidden gem or two to add to their roster this coming offseason.
A good diamond in the rough can make a world of difference, as evidenced by Ryan Rollins, who was initially a two-way player with the Bucks before earning a standard contract earlier this season. Rollins looks like he will be a crucial piece for Milwaukee moving forward, especially with Damian Lillard out of the lineup for the foreseeable future. Players like that can make a world of difference for a team that doesn't have much spending money and assets.
That said, let us look at a few players who will be available this offseason the Milwaukee Bucks should be looking into in hopes of finding a hidden gem.
Pete Nance
Pete Nance already has a head start on the other candidates because he was on Milwaukee's roster in 2024-25 as a two-way player. He never played prominent minutes, but when given the chance, the big man flexed his potential. He has the chops to be a gifted shooter, passer, defender and rebounder at 6-foot-10 and 25 years old if given a larger opportunity.
With so much uncertainty in the frontcourt heading into the offseason, bringing Nance back in some form of fashion should be an easy choice for Milwaukee. Like Rollins, Nance may be ready to step into a bigger role if the Milwaukee Bucks need it. If they could keep him on a two-way deal once again and keep developing him, it would be a no-brainer.
Malik Williams
Sticking with big man, Brook Lopez, Bobby Portis and Jericho Sims can all hit the free agent market in the coming months, so the Bucks may need a new center or two. No matter how they decide to fill out those spots, they should save some room for Malik Williams, the big man who has spent most of his time down in the G League over the past two seasons.
In 31 appearances with the Sioux Falls Skyforce this past season, Williams averaged 16.1 points, 10.2 boards, 1.4 assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.3 steals while hitting 39.4 percent of his triples. He was a force on both ends of the court, and his outside shooting, in particular, makes him a stronger fit with the Milwaukee Bucks, who have succeeded over the years due to Brook Lopez's ability to hit those shots.
Williams is 26, so he's not some young prospect, but if he can provide the same level of play that he has shown in the G League, he could get his big break.
Johnny Davis
There's a reason Johnny Davis went 10th overall in the 2022 NBA Draft. The Wisconsin product had a good bit of potential coming out of college, but he never unearthed it with the Washington Wizards in his three seasons there. What Davis needs is a chance to work on his game, and the Milwaukee Bucks could offer that with a two-way deal, which they could use to stash him in the G League.
This would be the definition of low-risk. Adding Davis via a two-way contract would not only be a nice story for the Wisconsin native, but if he doesn't pan out, it's not a standard contract, so the franchise could move on from him fairly easily. On the flip side, Davis, who could have used an extra year in college, could also find his stride and become the player many initially envisioned.
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