Mr. Klutch spoke with the media prior to the start of the Bucks training camp and touched on a few topics. Here is a look at some of the more interesting ones. He also noted that he got a “couple texts” from the Bucks saying he was going to get traded to the Lakers, but that didn’t materialize, and he was able to “keep busy” by working out with his personal trainer, “the guy who’s been with me since the start of my career.”
The Milwaukee Bucks are one of the most exciting teams in the NBA, and they are making a lot of big moves that will create a promising future for the franchise. The Bucks still have some major issues to address, though, and unless they can fix them, their future is very uncertain.
In a few months, the NBA Draft will have passed, and free agency will be right around the corner. The Bucks are a team that will likely have quite a bit of cap space to fill out their roster, and everyone on the team is hoping to get better. The biggest need for the Bucks is still going to be adding a wing defender to the roster, and they will have a lot of money to throw at one. Though many fans believe that the Bucks will look to make a splash in free agency before the draft, it should be noted that so far, the Bucks have not shown much interest in any of the top wing defenders in the draft. It will be interesting to see if that changes in June.. Read more about bucks free agency rumors and let us know what you think.
The Milwaukee Bucks, as anticipated, made numerous under-the-radar transactions during the first week of the NBA free agency season in 2021.
The Bucks have a major decision to make this summer about whether or not to retain both Bobby Portis and PJ Tucker, two key players from the team’s 2021 NBA championship run. General manager Jon Horst was unable to re-sign PJ Tucker when the veteran chose to join the Miami Heat, but he did manage to re-sign Portis on a team-friendly two-year, $9 million contract during the free agency period.
Grayson Allen, George Hill, Rodney Hood, and Semi Ojeleye are all important depth additions. Horst’s acquisitions of Allen and Ojeleye indicated a desire to improve the team’s bench unit’s defensive production, while veterans Hill and Hood have the ability to deliver crucial double-digit scoring performances during the season.
Barring any major surprises, the Bucks will not be making any more notable moves ahead of the upcoming season, especially as the team is already well in luxury tax territory as the likes of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday will all be making over $30+ million this season. The Bucks could still make some minor moves as they have a $5.8 million taxpayer mid-level exception. They had a $4.8 million trade exception from the DJ Augustin’s trade, but it was reportedly used to take in Allen’s salary.
If the Bucks decide to sign a few more players this summer, one or two more important bench players would be a great addition.
At the present, the Bucks’ depth at point guard is pretty well established. Jrue Holiday will enter his second season as the team’s primary point guard, with Hill set to serve as his backup. However, if Horst is still looking for another experienced point guard, there is still time to sign one.
While Avery Bradley has spent the last two seasons alternating between point and shooting guard, he might be a potential free agent option for Horst’s Bucks. Sure, Bradley isn’t the same deadly on-ball defensive guard he was earlier in his career, particularly following a season in which he only had a 48.4% guarded field goal percentage.
Bradley, on the other hand, is a guy who isn’t afraid to take on difficult defensive responsibilities on the floor, so he’d be a good match for the Bucks.
If the Bucks want to acquire a score-first guard, Dennis Smith Jr. or Gerald Green might be low-risk, high-reward choices on a one-year contract. Smith, rather than Green, might be a better match for the Bucks. While he may not be able to replace Bryn Forbes’ 3-point shooting vacuum, his quickness on the perimeter may help him crash the lane when he has the ball, which can offer up 3-point shooting chances for some of the Bucks’ more dependable 3-point shooters.
Former Boston Celtics versatile forward Ojeleye was signed by the Bucks, who are also likely to re-sign Thanasis Antetokounmpo. While the Bucks may not have an immediate need for another forward, there are still a number of such players available on a veteran minimum contract to help the team’s overall depth.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson or Stanley Johnson may be among the Bucks’ third-string forward possibilities. Both players have experienced offensive shortcomings in recent seasons, particularly because neither can be counted on as consistent 3-point shooters. Despite this, both are renowned for being tough on-ball defenders who can provide a significant amount of energy off the bench.
The Bucks do not have a pressing need to add another free agent ahead of the next season, as previously stated. Horst could call it a day and keep the squad intact, and the club would still be a strong title contender the next season.
With free agency still less than a week old, it will certainly be noteworthy to see on whether Horst has any plans to add another veteran or two to the team’s already potent bench unit. This may be critical as the likes of Holiday and Middleton may be rested for a multitude of games over the first half of the season following their run with Team USA in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer may call upon his bench unit to pick up the slack in the meantime.
Everyone following the Milwaukee Bucks this offseason will tell you that the biggest need for the team this offseason is a point guard. And while that position is usually where you expect the Bucks to explore the market once the season ends, this year seems to be different.. Read more about milwaukee bucks fans and let us know what you think.
Related Tags
This article broadly covered the following related topics:
- bucks free agency 2021
- bucks free agency rumors
- milwaukee bucks free agent targets 2021
- milwaukee bucks website
- milwaukee bucks fan forum
