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

The Bucks must learn from these regrettable free-agent signings.
Milwaukee Bucks, Giannis Antetokounmpo
Milwaukee Bucks, Giannis Antetokounmpo / Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
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5. Torrey Craig

After trading for Jrue Holiday and paying to keep their core together, the Bucks did not have cap space to splash in free agency. They have mostly been limited to minimum contracts and trying to find hidden value on the open market.

The Bucks signed Craig to a minimum contract in 2020 in hopes he could give them quality minutes off the bench. The 6’7 wing played nearly 19 minutes per game over his three seasons in Denver. Milwaukee revamped their roster to win a title and viewed Craig as a key addition.

He lasted just 18 games before the Bucks traded him for cash at the deadline. Craig dealt with injuries but was ineffective when he played. The 30-year-old was sent to the Suns, who faced Milwaukee in the NBA Finals. Craig refused a ring after the Bucks won the series because they defeated his current team.

Milwaukee suffered some bad luck here but needed a better shooter to play more minutes. Giannis Antetokounmpo and Brook Lopez were an elite defensive frontcourt duo and had one of the best perimeter defenders in Jrue Holiday flanking them. Milwaukee needed a floor spacer to round out that core. This was still a wise move, but it just did not work.