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

3. Goran Dragic

There was plenty of excitement when the Bucks signed Dragic off the buyout market in 2023. The former All-Star was declining, but head coach Mike Budenholzer believed in his talent. It was the second consecutive year that the veteran guard was bought out. He considered Milwaukee before joining the Nets in 2022.

Things never panned out. Dragic did not play his first game until late March and averaged just 5.6 points, 1.7 assists, and 1.7 rebounds in 11.9 minutes per contest. He appeared in just seven and played seven total minutes in the playoffs as the Bucks lost to the Heat in the opening round.

It was clear that Dragic’s best basketball was behind him, and the 37-year-old retired after the season. He was an All-Star, but never won a championship. The Dragon had multiple shots on contending teams. It just did not happen for the Slovenian guard.

This was not the only time the Milwaukee Bucks struck out in the buyout market. Giannis Antetokounmpo makes them a contender and gets veterans interested, but these players are let go for a reason. They do not have much left in the tank. The Bucks cannot count on buyout options for production, especially in the playoffs.