Unless the Milwaukee Bucks pull another rabbit out of their hat last minute like they did last year with the blockbuster Damian Lillard trade, they are seemingly done making roster moves.
The Bucks didn't make the splashiest moves, such as the Philadelphia 76ers adding Paul George to create a formidable new trio or the New York Knicks continuing to bring together every single former Villanova player with the addition of Mikal Bridges. However, they were really never expected to swing for the fences this year. That came last year when they brought in Lillard.
Instead, the Bucks were expected to make a few moves around the edges to better complement their stars up top, and they did just that. Even if the NBA world isn't high on the Milwaukee Bucks right now, they have put together a roster that will have them competing this coming season. That said, let us analyze Milwaukee's offseason moves and give their summer transactions an overall grade.
The two ways
Given how veteran-oriented their roster is, the Milwaukee Bucks don't typically give two-way signings a prominent role. Most of their time is spent in the G-League with the Wisconsin Herd, where they can work on their games in hopes of landing a standard deal down the line, the exact same path that Bucks wing AJ Green took. They added two new, eye-catching players via these deals this offseason.
Signing Stanley Umude.
The Bucks are always hunting for wing depth, so it made sense when they inked Stanley Umude to a two-way deal early in free agency. The 6-foot-6 25-year-old showed flashes of 3-and-D potential in his two seasons with the Detroit Pistons, taking on difficult defensive assignments while knocking in 44.4 percent of his shots from 3-point territory.
This is a nice flyer signing for the Milwaukee Bucks. Another versatile, defensive-minded wing never hurts to have in tow. Even if he doesn't see prominent minutes in Milwaukee right away, if he dazzles in the G-League, he'll catch the eye of a front office that has been hunting for athletic defensive wings for years now and perhaps earn a standard deal if a roster spot opens up.
Signing Anzejs Pasecniks.
After signing Umude, all three of Milwaukee's two-way slots were filled up, and their 15-man standard roster was also full soon after. Looking at that group, it was clear that if the Bucks needed a body at a particular position, it was center. Behind Brook Lopez and Bobby Portis, the team had no traditional center to turn to for depth purposes. Then came Anzejs Pasecniks.
The Bucks waived Jaylin Galloway to make room for the Latvian big man, who stands tall at 7-foot-1. Like Umude, most of his time will be spent in the G-League, and it will be interesting to see what he produces with the Herd or if he ever gets a call-up. For the time being, he will serve as a break glass in case of emergency big man in Milwaukee's frontcourt.
The NBA Draft
With a first and second round pick at their disposal, all eyes were on the Milwaukee Bucks leading up to the 2024 NBA Draft. It was clear that this roster, one of the oldest in the NBA, needed to add some youth to the mix, and this seemed like a perfect opportunity for them to add a piece or two who may be able to help. What transpired was pretty unorthodox in the moment.
Drafting AJ Johnson.
With their first-rounder, the Bucks took AJ Johnson, a move that stunned just about every Bucks fan. Given that many thought the team was looking for players who could help sooner rather than later, it was shocking to see them take a 19-year-old who averaged 2.8 points, 1.3 rebounds and 0.7 assists per game overseas last season.
Johnson raised his stock with a strong showing in the Summer League, showing off his unreal speed, tough shot-making and playmaking ability. The potential is there for the young guard to develop into a quality player, but it's unclear how long it will take. It just might be the most significant draft gamble that general manager Jon Horst has made during his tenure with the Milwaukee Bucks.
Drafting Tyler Smith.
With their second-round selection, the Milwaukee Bucks took Tyler Smith, another 19-year-old who actually knew AJ Johnson from playing together back in the day. Position-wise, it made sense for the Bucks to add another big body, as the 6-foot-11 forward will give the team another frontcourt piece to serve as depth behind Giannis Antetokounmpo, Brook Lopez and Bobby Portis.
Just like Johnson, Smith has the potential to be a quality NBA player; it's just unclear how long it will take for him to unearth it. He's got a smooth-looking jumper and possesses eye-catching athleticism for a player of his size, but at 19, he's still growing. While he needs time to grow, being in a frontcourt room with those three aforementioned players should do well for his development.
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.
More from free agency
With one roster spot available and Gary Trent Jr. still available, Bucks fans discussed the idea of filling out the 15-man group by adding the guard, but it always seemed pretty far-fetched. Would a player of Trent's caliber settle for a minimum deal? Surely he could get more from someone. Well, Trent ended up inking a one-year deal with the Bucks, who very well may have signed the steal of the offseason.
Signing Gary Trent Jr.
Gary Trent Jr. will immediately claim Milwaukee's starting two-guard job. He fits in seamlessly with the core four, particularly due to his sweet outside shooting. Hitting 38.6 percent of his career 3-pointers on 6.4 attempts per game, the guard will thrive with all of the space he receives in lineups alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard, putting defenses in a bind on every possession.
Trent's defense is the bigger question mark here. While he's always been a disruptor who generates plenty of steals, that doesn't always translate to being a great one-on-one defender. Alongside the offensive-minded Damian Lillard, Trent must be willing to step up and take on tough assignments to alleviate the load off of Lillard. Is he up for it? If so, it would be a huge lift for the Milwaukee Bucks.
This has the potential to go down as one of the best signings of Jon Horst's tenure with the Bucks if Gary Trent Jr. shoots the long ball well while upping his game defensively.
The grade
On paper, it'd be hard to hate the moves the Milwaukee Bucks made this offseason.
The three standard free agency signings of Wright, Prince and Trent all make the team more versatile. Furthermore, they all simply fit the vision of the roster, unlike last year's group, which was essentially just thrown together at the last minute due to the timing of the Damian Lillard trade. These three perfectly complement the team's three leading stars and will assist them mightily on a nightly basis.
Umude and Pasecniks won't play much, but they will give the Milwaukee Bucks depth on the wing and at the center spot, two areas in which they could always use extra bodies. They are low-risk flyers who will be in Oshkosh for a good portion of the year.
The big question, and one that could shift this grade mightily in time, is the draft. Both Johnson and Smith unquestionably have potential, but at 19, how long will it take until they are ready to help? Will it be years? That might not help the team during this current era. However, if they accelerate things and develop into contributors sooner rather than later, it could extend the Bucks' current title window.
The team is better, at least fit-wise, than it was when last season ended. Time will tell if that translates to the on-court product in the coming months, but these moves have all of the potential to assist the Milwaukee Bucks in getting back to the mountaintop next year.
BTBP Grade: A-