Ranking Milwaukee Bucks contracts from bargain to nightmare
By Tyler Watts
The Milwaukee Bucks went all in on competing for a championship. Pressure from Giannis Antetokounmpo led to trading for Damian Lillard and firing first-year head coach Adrian Griffin midseason. It is championship or bust in Milwaukee, and the Bucks are starting to look like title contenders under Doc Rivers.
The franchise will make more moves if they falter in the playoffs. Having a prime superstar forces their hand. The Bucks must do everything possible to win games and keep Giannis in Cream City for his entire career.
They backed themselves into a corner with their recent moves. The Bucks have four monster contracts and not much else to trade. Milwaukee needs to manage their cap sheet wisely to avoid the second tax apron, so here is a closer look at where their current contracts stand.
Absolute steal
15. Giannis Antetokounmpo
The Greek Freak may be the best player in the world right now, but he is tied for the seventh-highest paid in the NBA. He is making $45.6 million this season and makes $54-plus million in each year of his extension. The price is only going up, but the league instituted max contracts to limit how much the top talent makes. Giannis is still a steal even at the top salary.
Antetokounmpo is unquestionably the best contract on the Bucks’ books. It is why they try so hard to keep him happy. The Greek Freak keeps them in contention and is an unquestioned steal.
14. Malik Beasley
Beasley joined the Bucks on a one-year veteran minimum deal in the summer of 2023. He turned down more money from the Mavericks and Lakers for a larger role in Milwaukee.
The 27-year-old has been an absolute steal for the Bucks. He is averaging 11.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 0.9 steals in 29.6 minutes per game. Beasley has started every contest and is shooting 43.6 percent from 3-point range. He has adjusted to his new role and has been outstanding in Milwaukee.
The Bucks have plenty of players providing value, but only two qualified for this category. Several others are underpaid.