9 Bucks free agent signings that crashed and burned during Giannis era

7. Miles Plumlee

The Bucks acquired Michael Carter-Williams, Tyler Ennis, and Plumlee in a three-team trade in 2015 where Brandon Knight and Kendall Marshall were sent packing. It helped them make the playoffs before being swept by the Bulls in the opening round.

Plumlee played just 9.3 minutes per game down the stretch and only saw 16 total minutes in the playoffs. In his first full season with the Bucks, he got 14.3 every night. He was a reserve, but that did not stop the franchise from giving him a four-year $52 million contract in the summer of 2016.

Plumlee’s production dipped even further after the new deal. He lasted just 32 games where he averaged 2.6 points and 1.7 rebounds in 9.7 minutes per contest. The Bucks dealt him to Charlotte for Spencer Hawes and Roy Hibbert. The two acquisitions were nearing the end of their careers, but it was the only way for Milwaukee to dump Plumlee’s contract.

Cap spike or not, giving a backup big man playing ten to 15 minutes per game $13 million per season is just irresponsible. The Bucks cannot overpay their current talent, especially when trying to contend. Every asset is valuable. Miles Plumlee could never produce like that type of player on the court, which made this arguably the worst signing of the Giannis’ era.