This NBA off-season has seen a number of Eastern Conference teams make moves to put themselves in a position to challenge the Boston Celtics. The Milwaukee Bucks made their first move of this free agency by acquiring a veteran guard in Delon Wright.
Backup point guard play was always an issue for the Bucks this past season. Wright brings not only a veteran presence but a real defensive presence, too. For many Bucks fans, he has been a name that's come up on many occasions as someone who can be added to the roster and play a vital part.
Wright spent last season with the Washington Wizards before moving on to the Miami Heat. After he hit the free agent market briefly, he finds himself heading ot Milwaukee.
Let's grade this deal.
The financial aspect of Delon Wright's deal with the Milwaukee Bucks
Per The Athletic's Eric Nehm (subscription required), Wright signed a one-year, $3 million veteran minimum deal to join the Bucks. That is important to note because It had initially been reported as a deal worth $3.3 million, which would have put the Bucks in an odd spot financially.
Instead, it's $3 million, which is the veteran minimum for a player with nine-years of NBA experience.
Financially, this is a great deal for the Milwaukee Bucks. Taking a vet like this on a one-year deal is always safe and doesn't leave you tied to that player if it doesn't work out. Wright has been more of a bench player his career and a good one at that. However, with Malik Beasley looking like he may move on from the Bucks, the shooting guard spot could be there for Wright if Doc Rivers likes that partnership in the backcourt.
Coming into this off-season, we knew the Bucks didn't have the money to spend, so picking up a dependable player like Wright for the vet minimum is just what the Bucks needed. There will likely be other veterans on similar deals joining the Milwaukee Bucks to fill out the roster, but there are unlikely to be as many that possess as good value as this, considering the team's needs.
Looking at Delon Wright’s fit and role with the Milwaukee Bucks
Outside of Lillard, the Bucks' guard play was not the greatest on both ends of the court last season. Malik Beasley tailed off late, having had a strong shooting season while lacking the defensive presence Milwaukee needed.
Patrick Beverley was acquired at the NBA Trade Deadline and took the starting spot at shooting guard and did what the Bucks needed, but at 36 and the way his season ended with the altercation with the Indiana Pacers fan, there has been no report as to if he will return.
Wright gives the Bucks a bigger guard who can facilitate and shoot, and at 6-foot-5, can be used alongside Lillard in order to guard wings if needed. It was reported by Kevin O'Connor of The Ringer that the Bucks want to be more versatile on defense next season, and Wright gives them that.
Having seen the likes of Tyrese Haliburton and Jalen Brunson have big games against Milwaukee, Wright is the exact type of guard that is needed to slow them down and still give the team some production on offense.
In recent seasons, the Bucks have had many veteran guards play backup, with the likes of Jeff Teague, George Hill, Goran Dragic and Cameron Payne. Wright may be the best pickup of the lot, and at 31, he still has a role to play in this league. This past season, he averaged 4.5 points, 2.5 assists and a steal in 15.8 minutes. He had splits of .394/.368/.822 and registered 54 steals with just 14 turnovers.
In the 2023-24 season, he had a defensive rating of 114.1, the worst of his career, per StatMuse. His career defensive rating comes in at 109.9. To put that into perspective, only two Bucks had a better defensive rating this season, and they were Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis. This was the WORST of Wright's career so that defensive presence and versatility will be ideal.
An interesting area that Wright could be useful in is an example and mentor to recent 23rd overall pick AJ Johnson. Johnson was a very surprising pick for the Bucks and is expected to be more of a long-term project than a part of the rotation right away.
Wright has the experience, and Johnson is a similar size and build, and he has already shown he has a good defensive skill set. That won't be Wright's role; he will clearly be a big part of the rotation, but as Johnson begins his NBA career, it might actually help him grow to see and work with a nine-year veteran to pick up things that can assist his own development.
He has plenty of experience off the bench for many teams and has shown great versatility throughout his NBA career.
Delon Wright’s long-term outlook with the Milwaukee Bucks
This is very much a standard veteran deal. Wright has the experience and skill set to assist the Bucks.
Should it work out, they will look to offer him a deal to keep him around longer. In his nine-year career, Wright has played for eight different franchises (the Bucks now being number nine), and he is the sort of player lots of contending teams desire due to his defensive capabilities and solid offensive game.
It is a move of intent from the Bucks' front office by acquiring someone in their prime to help with their defensive issues. Milwaukee needs to get younger and more athletic, however, Wright can defend and still brings an element of athleticism that is lacking from other areas of the roster.
This all focuses on the present, and this first move tackles some of the roster's issues. Other roster spots will be filled but there are rumors still circulating about the team possibly being active in the trade market.
Wright and the Bucks are a great pairing for now, but should it go well, then their tenure together may be extended. The guard has spent three-and-a-half years in Toronto, but since 2019 has been all over the country. This could be the chance for him to find a team he stays with for a number of years.
The verdict on Delon Wright's deal with the Milwaukee Bucks
This deal is brilliant for the Milwaukee Bucks. Two of their backcourt rotational players are free agents, and the Bucks needed to fill those roles. This is a good start. With the financial restrictions the team has, Wright is one of the best players the Bucks could have got to fill that role as a potential starting guard or veteran backup from the bench.
Wright gets a chance to be on a contending team and provides value with his dependability and defensive versatility. It is a great short-term deal that, if successful, could lead to a longer deal for Wright to stay in Milwaukee. The main draw with this deal is his defense, and at 31, Wright is younger than a lot of the previous veteran guards the Milwaukee Bucks have acquired in recent years.
With Rivers and the Bucks reportedly wanting to play a more versatile defensive scheme, having Wright on the roster allows them to do so as he is a big guard, allowing him to be moved onto bigger wings while also having the physical edge over smaller guards. It is a really clever move by the Bucks. It is low-risk with what he brings and the fit for the roster.
Overall, this deal is brilliant for the Milwaukee Bucks and Wright.
BTBP Grade: A
Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks news and analysis as the Bucks look to build their roster this free agency.