The Milwaukee Bucks enter free agency needing answers at multiple positions. How will they fill a Damian Lillard-sized void at point guard? What will they do at center? Which guards and wing players should they keep? As the offseason tips off, here is a ranking of the upcoming Bucks free agents they should be the most interested in keeping.
1 - Gary Trent Jr.
This isn't about Trent's 37-point eruption in Milwaukee's Game 3 win against the Pacers or the 33 points in Game 5, although that kind of torrential upside certainly helps his case. Coming over from Toronto on a one-year, $2.6 million deal last year, Trent delivered a solid season despite starting only nine games. Playing his fewest minutes since 2020, Trent averaged 11.1 points, shot 41.6 percent on threes and played tenacious defense.
With Lillard projected to miss a large chunk of next season, backcourt production will be critical for the Bucks. If called upon, Trent is more than capable of contributing at a higher volume; he averaged 17.4 points for Toronto in 2023. Even if his playoff heater earns him a pay raise, he should be an affordable option. The Bucks could use his scoring - more than that, they may very well need it.
2 - Kevin Porter Jr.
If he doesn't exercise his $2.5 million player option, Porter is a player the Bucks should prioritize re-signing. Despite his first-round struggles, he proved a massive pickup for the Bucks after the trade deadline. After missing all of the 2023-24 season due to off-court issues, he became the dynamic captain of Milwaukee's second unit. In 20 minutes per game post-trade, he averaged 11.7 points and 3.7 assists on 40.8 percent shooting from three.
Given that he remains something of a question mark, he is unlikely to command a large price tag if he does choose to explore the market. Porter has considerable upside (19.2 points per game with Houston in 2022-23), and the Milwaukee Bucks have already seen what the 24-year-old can do. As a cheap, young option, he is a must-have insurance policy at point guard.
3 - Bobby Portis
Portis also has a player option, worth $13.4 million as the fourth and final year of his current contract. If he tests the free agent waters, frontcourt uncertainty should motivate Milwaukee to bring him back, within reason.
At age 30, Portis may look to secure what could be the last long-term deal of his career. Although Brook Lopez will also be a free agent, leaving them without a starting-caliber big man alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Bucks should not overextend themselves on a lucrative deal.
While Portis is an important, popular role player (averaged 13.9 points, 8.4 rebounds this season), he is not irreplaceable. Stretch bigs are not hard to find in today's game. Nonetheless, the front office should look to retain him due to his size and versatility, as well as his scoring ability, at a reasonable price tag.
4 - Ryan Rollins
Just 22 years old, Rollins made under $500,000 as a two-way player this season before earning a standard deal while providing excellent defense and knockdown shooting (40.8 percent on threes). He should get a bump in pay this offseason, but nothing to break the bank.
In an organization bereft of young talent, coming off a promising first real shot in the pros (56 games), Rollins has the skill set to make him a coveted 3-and-D player for years to come. The Bucks should pounce on the chance to sign him cheap for multiple seasons.
5 - Jericho Sims
It wasn't nearly enough to win the series (partly because Doc Rivers refused to play him more), but Sims' quickness supplied a major upgrade over Lopez in limited minutes versus Indiana. After falling out of favor in New York, who dealt him at the trade deadline, Sims may have revitalized his career with the Milwaukee Bucks. Still, he projects to be a low-cost, athletic option at a position the team needs to fill. Sims deserves a full season in Milwaukee.
6 - Taurean Prince
Along with Lopez, who lost his starting job to Portis in Game 5, Taurean Prince was played off the court in the playoffs. Albeit a reliable sniper, he does not offer much else. While running it back on a veteran minimum contract would not be a bad thing, it probably isn't necessary, either.
Fellow harpshooter AJ Green is poised for another step forward. Ideally, a veteran like Prince would also contribute rebounding or defense. After a one-year fling, it should not be a painful parting for Prince and the Milwaukee Bucks.
7 - Brook Lopez
As for Lopez, who in 2025 became the only player to make 2,000 threes and block 2,000 shots, it was an enjoyable seven-year run with the franchise. This season, however, fans turned on him for good.
Never an elite rebounder, Lopez has clearly lost a step on defense, leaving him vulnerable to blow-bys on the perimeter. Two years removed from his best campaign in Milwaukee, the 37-year-old center did not nearly justify his $23 million salary. The Milwaukee Bucks would not have won the 2021 NBA Finals without him, but in pursuit of another one, it's time for fans to bid Splash Mountain farewell.
8 - Pat Connaughton
Also in his seventh season as a Buck, Pat Connaughton could technically become a free agent as well but will likely opt in to his $9.4 million player option. An important reserve on the title team, he is no longer an impactful member of the rotation.
His 41 games played and 14.7 minutes per contest were his lowest since 2017 in Portland. Consider his 43-point game in the 2025 regular season finale as his last hurrah with the Bucks. Assuming he exercises his option, the next step will be finding a way to unload him.
As the team attempts to mitigate Lillard's absence and address weaknesses, the front office must spend on external acquisitions as well. By bringing back some of the players named above, the Bucks can retain the desirable pieces of the current roster. With major changes likely on the horizon, they would do well to avoid unnecessary upheaval.