Just what the doctor ordered? Grading Milwaukee Bucks' 2024 offseason
By Dalton Sell
Free agency
With very little financial flexibility, including nothing to offer but minimum contracts, no one expected the Milwaukee Bucks to land any of the big fish in free agency. Yet, general manager Jon Horst didn't let that stop him from adding several strong free agents, patching plenty of holes that plagued the roster this past season.
Signing Delon Wright.
Milwaukee needed more versatile perimeter defenders this offseason. They kicked free agency off by addressing this immediately, adding Delon Wright on a one-year deal. Wright, a nine-year veteran, will claim the Milwaukee Bucks' backup point guard job from day one and give this team a reliable veteran presence off of the bench.
The Bucks needed to get more versatile this offseason, and adding a 6-foot-5 player who can play both guard positions while defending countless builds will certainly help. While he likely won't start, Wright should see plenty of time next to Damian Lillard, taking pressure off of the star guard as he takes on the tough matchups defensively while Lillard locks in offensively.
Signing Taurean Prince.
Sticking with the versatility angle, shortly after signing Wright, the Milwaukee Bucks also added NBA veteran Taurean Prince. Standing tall at 6-foot-6, Prince can play both forward positions and take on several different positions offensively. He's also a strong perimeter shooter, having sunk 37.6 percent of his career 3-pointers. There's plenty to like about Taurean Prince's fit in Milwaukee.
Prince should see plenty of action under head coach Doc Rivers, but his importance will show the most when the Milwaukee Bucks utilize their small lineups. It's been reiterated constantly over the years, but the key in the 2021 title run was when they went small with Giannis Antetokounmpo at center. Prince could be the key to getting the most out of those lineups as an ideal small-ball four.