11 Way too early 2024 free agent targets for the Milwaukee Bucks
By Dalton Sell
Lamar Stevens
Looking for low-cost help on the defensive side of the court, the Milwaukee Bucks should look into forward Lamar Stevens.
Defense has always been Stevens' calling card. At 6-foot-6, 230lbs, he has good size and can play either forward slot while also defending them. He'd be a nice addition to most defensive lineups, but he could especially make for a quality addition to Milwaukee's small-ball lineups when they utilize Giannis Antetokounmpo at center, something they haven't done heavily since the title run.
It was a turbulent year for Stevens, who started off with the Boston Celtics before ending up with the Memphis Grizzlies. In Memphis, he showed real potential and played the best ball of his NBA career, averaging 11.5 points and 5.1 rebounds in 23 minutes per game. Unsurprisingly, those are all the best of his career, so perhaps all he needs is a larger role to show his value on an NBA roster.
Despite his excellent showing in Memphis, Stevens likely will not be hunting for a raise in free agency. If he's out there and willing to take a minimum, the Bucks should swoop him up before anyone else is able to. His poor outside shooting is a concern, shooting 28.6 percent for his career, but the defense could outweigh those concerns, especially if he takes a cheap deal.