The Milwaukee Bucks haven't swung for the fences throughout 2024 NBA Free Agency, but they were never expected to do so.
Instead, with nothing but minimum and two-way contracts at their disposal, the team was always set to just make a few moves around the edges. In the opening days of free agency, they have done just that, bringing three new players to town. While nothing will be certain until the players are on the floor, the general consensus right away is that these are good additions to the Milwaukee Bucks roster.
Let's analyze why these three, Delon Wright, Stanley Umude and Taurean Prince, are all good fits for this Milwaukee Bucks team.
No. 1 - They all help the Bucks get younger
The NBA is very quickly becoming a young man's game. It was very apparent this past season that did not bode well for the Milwaukee Bucks, who were among the oldest teams in the league. When facing one of these younger, more athletic teams, Milwaukee oftentimes ran into trouble and struggled. Just because a player is young doesn't mean they are an upgrade, but in this case, it does help.
Wright signs with the Bucks after just turning 32 years old, while Prince is just a couple of years below that at 30. Umude just turned 25, so he will be another nice addition to what is shaping up to be a nice young core in Milwaukee. All three will help lower the average age of this roster, allowing the Bucks to combat the recent youth movement in the NBA to some degree.
Rather than following their typical blueprint of adding older players who are beyond their primes, the Bucks have picked up two veterans who are still quality contributors and a youngster who could get there in no time. It's a nice switch-up for this Milwaukee Bucks front office and one that could pay off in a big way.
No. 2 - They all fill positions of need for the Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks had five players hit free agency this off-season, including Patrick Beverley and Malik Beasley in the backcourt, and Jae Crowder, Danilo Gallinari and Thanasis Antetokounmpo in the frontcourt. With uncertainty about who would be back, the team has patched those roster holes (and even upgraded in some areas).
With Beasley almost guaranteed to earn a raise and Beverley letting it be known that he'd like one, the team needed help in the backcourt. Wright provides that immediately, giving the Bucks a combo guard who can be a stout perimeter defender like Beverley. He's not the same level of 3-point shooter as Beasley, but Wright is respectable in that regard. He's a great get at the guard position.
In the frontcourt, it's not controversial to think that Prince is an upgrade over Gallinari and Crowder, two players who couldn't carve out roles for themselves in Milwaukee. Prince gives the Bucks a nice veteran forward who can replace both Crowder and Gallinari. If all goes according to plan, Prince has what it takes to play the role the Bucks envisioned Crowder in when they traded for him.
Umude gives Milwaukee another young wing, something this team has needed for a long time now. On a two-way deal, his chances of cracking the rotation are slim, but having another lengthy wing with defensive potential and a sweet perimeter shot is something you can never have too much of in today's NBA. He'll be a nice depth piece to have in Milwaukee's back pocket.
No. 3 - They all provide more versatility for the Bucks
Over the last few seasons, the Milwaukee Bucks have been plagued by a lack of versatility. Due to the personnel they've employed, they've been unable to utilize some of their best lineups. Several of their rotational players have been limited in how much they can do, whether it's due to their age, height, quickness, length or whatever else. These three should help.
Wright gives the Bucks a 6-foot-5 player who can play either guard position. That means when they want him to handle the ball and run the bench, he can. When they want him to play alongside point guard Damain Lillard, Wright can play off the ball and focus more on his defense. With his height and length, he can defend multiple positions and hold his own in switch-heavy situations.
Prince does a lot of the same at the forward position. He can play both small and power forward, utilizing his 6-foot-6 stature and 7-foot wingspan to hold his own defensively while making plays offensively. For a team that has seemingly been relying on 6-foot-5 wings consistently over these past few years, adding a legitimate tall, lengthy wing is a nice change of pace.
With height and switchability, Prince could be the key to unlocking Milwaukee's small lineups when they put Giannis Antetokounmpo at center, putting Prince at the four spot. This combination was a key factor in the Milwaukee Bucks winning it all in 2021, as P.J. Tucker played this role to perfection. Prince could be the next best thing, though his defense is not quite on 2021 Tucker's level.
Also standing at 6-foot-6, Umude gives the Bucks a lengthy two-guard who, as mentioned has some nice potential defensively. If he ever does get on the floor for Milwaukee, it will be due to his defensive potential. He could thrive when the Bucks are in switching schemes, something they will likely look to employ more this coming season.
With The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor reporting that there are rumblings of the Milwaukee Bucks wanting to play a more versatile style of defense this coming season, these three are all excellent fits.
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