The Milwaukee Bucks have no shortage of uncertainty at the center position entering the offseason but not a lot of avenues to fix it.
Brook Lopez, Bobby Portis and Jericho Sims are all eligible to hit the free agent market, which could leave Milwaukee without a single center on the roster. While they could certainly use a reset, there is no clear-cut answer in sight. The team has limited assets to trade, one late second-round pick in this upcoming draft and some money to spend in free agency, but this upcoming class is far from loaded.
The reality is that while the Milwaukee Bucks definitely need to shake things up at the center position, it might be easier said than done.
Bucks will have to dig deep to solve center conundrum
Let's start with free agency. It feels safe to say that Myles Turner and Naz Reid, two players who would fit like a glove in Milwaukee, will be too pricey.
Ideally, the Milwaukee Bucks can find a stretch five to complement Giannis Antetokounmpo, just like Lopez has over the past several years. However, most of the other compelling centers in this class do not have jump shots. Steven Adams, Clint Capela, Kevon Looney and Andre Drummond are all players who do most of their work inside.
A center doesn't have to be a reliable 3-point shooter to succeed in Milwaukee. Jericho Sims, a player the Bucks should absolutely re-sign, did not attempt a single triple. However, he made up for what he lacked as a jump shooter with his hustle, athletic ability and knack for being a transition threat, things that none of the aforementioned realistic centers bring to the table.
Picking in the late 40s, the Milwaukee Bucks would have to land a legitimate steal to solve their big man concerns via the draft. Sure, perhaps they could try to make a big swing with a trade into the first round to pick someone like 7-footer Maxime Raynaud, who would be an excellent fit in Milwaukee, but even that seems like a long shot.
As for trades, new names will surface once the offseason officially begins, but the current market is bare. Perhaps the Milwaukee Bucks could kick the tires on Charlotte's Mark Williams, who is a walking double-double when he is on the court. However, he oftentimes battles the injury bug, making him a major concern, and that's the last thing the Milwaukee Bucks need right now.
With a contract extension under his belt, Jon Horst will have a plan. Re-signing Sims feels like one of the team's more obvious moves, but he cannot be the starting five. Would Horst consider retaining Brook Lopez after his role vanished in the postseason? Does he think Bobby Portis may be ready for a bigger role? Time will tell, and the answers will undoubtedly impact next season.
Nailing what comes next at the center position will be among the most pressing objectives for Horst in the coming months.
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