The 2023-24 NBA season did not go according to plan for the Milwaukee Bucks. Their offseason blockbuster acquisition of Damian Lillard did not yield the results they had hoped for, as he struggled to find his rhythm at points in the regular season.
Their season was ultimately undone when Giannis Antetokounmpo suffered an injury before the end of the regular season. His injury was bad enough that he was unable to get back on the court for the 2024 NBA Playoffs, resulting in a first-round loss to the Indiana Pacers.
Heading into the 2024 NBA offseason, the most important thing for the Milwaukee Bucks is to get healthy. Khris Middleton also battled an ankle sprain in the postseason and Lillard dealt with Achilles soreness.
To help keep them fresh throughout the season and ready for what they hope is a deep playoff run, the Bucks need to find affordable depth. That is part of the reason Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report has named Alec Burks as the team’s dream free agent in 2024 free agency.
Capped out, as $97 million is owed to Lillard and Antetokounmpo alone, Milwaukee is going to have to get creative in filling out their roster. They found a gem last offseason signing Malik Beasley to a veteran’s minimum contract and Swartz believes they should look to do the same with Burks.
“Burks has drilled 40.2 percent of his three-point attempts over the past four seasons. His 6’6″ frame gives him the ability to play and defend multiple positions, which is the kind of versatility that the Bucks need,” Swartz wrote.
Burks started the 2023-24 season with the Detroit Pistons and was traded to the New York Knicks ahead of the deadline. He performed so poorly that Tom Thibodeau removed him from the rotation near the end of the season when the team got healthier.
But, injuries hit New York hard in the postseason. Burks was thrust into a major role once again and responded with some big games. He scored 11+ points in the last five games of the postseason, knocking down 12 3-pointers.
A steady veteran capable of filling numerous roles, Burks would be a great addition to the Milwaukee Bucks roster. Turning 33 in July, he may be willing to take a veteran’s minimum to join a contending team.
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