Just one year after being traded in a salary dump to the Hornets, former Bucks guard Pat Connaughton finds himself rumored as a buyout candidate following a disappointing age-33 season. The Bucks made a risky move by attaching additional picks (two second-rounders) just to get off Connaughton's contract, but are now validated after seeing how little Connaughton had left to contribute as he nears the end of his NBA career.
The Bucks were right to get off Connaughton's contract
When Milwaukee shipped out Connaughton, he had just exercised a $9.43 million player option for the 2025-26 season. Of course, the Bucks knew he would likely produce at a level far below that value and they needed additional cap flexibility in a last-ditch effort to build a solid team around Giannis Antetokounmpo. Although those efforts didn't pay off, the Bucks are still in a better spot for a rebuild now thanks to their trade of Connaughton.
The season before opting in to his player option, Connaughton played in just 41 games for the Bucks and averaged 5 points per game. He had clearly taken a huge step back athletically from his peak years during the Bucks' 2021 title run. Connaughton's physical wear showed both in his defensive dropoff and his shooting decline - he hit just 32% of his threes during his last season in Milwaukee.
At that point, Connaughton had lost his effectiveness on both ends that once made him a valuable 3-and-D role player. The Bucks rightfully decided to take their chances with a room full of younger guards for backcourt depth instead. Not only did those guys have the potential to grow into better players than Connaughton in the immediate future, they were also on cheaper contracts.
Connaughton couldn't prove the Bucks wrong
Even then, Connaughton could have changed the narrative around his career trajectory by having a resurgent season in Charlotte. The Hornets had their best season in years, but Connaughton didn't contribute much on the court. He appeared in just 42 games and saw his production fall of even more - just 2.6 points per game.
It's possible that Connaughton's veteran presence and insight as a former champion helped the Hornets get back on track after 3 straight seasons as bottom-feeders. But the Bucks had little use for that with other veterans, including fellow champions in Giannis and Bobby Portis, on the roster last season.
At any rate, it's clear that Connaughton won't be much of a contributor on the court anymore. The Hornets eventually waived him before re-signing him to a cheaper deal during the season, another blemish towards his status around the league. If they choose to buy him out rather than playing him through his contract next season, Connaughton could struggle to even find another home in the NBA. Sadly, the one-time Bucks folk hero seems to be on his last legs in the league.
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