While the Milwaukee Bucks didn’t have the noisiest free agency, the common theme from the organization was to retain their depth while adding an extra veteran piece to their championship-caliber roster. They did just that this offseason and seem to have their roster spots all but decided ahead of the NBA season.
Here is a ranking of every Bucks’ free agency move this summer categorized into two sections: most impactful and most middling.
Most impactful
1. Re-signing Bobby Portis after his opt-out
Considering the season Bobby Portis had this past year, it wasn’t shocking he opted out of his two-year deal this offseason for a more extensive pay raise. Portis had career-highs in points (14.6), rebounds (9.1), games played (72) and games started (59) during 2021-2022 while mostly serving as the team’s starting center when Brook Lopez was out the lineup in the regular-season.
Retaining Portis under the $50 million dollar threshold for four years is a bargain for the Bucks. With his ability to be a long-term small-ball five and stretch four for the Milwaukee frontline, expect the starting frontcourt of Portis, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Lopez to man the frontcourt throughout the decade.
2. Re-signing Pat Connaughton after his opt-in
To the surprise of many outside the Bucks’ organization, Pat Connaughton opted into the last $5.7 million of his original contract to stay with the team. What many came to realize soon after is the was all a part of obtaining a more lucrative multiyear in-house deal with the organization. The Notre Dame standout re-upped with a three-year extension that varies between $28.5 million to $30 million depending on the reporting sources.
Like Portis, Connaughton was relied on as a starter during the regular-season due to injuries and delivered on his enhanced reps. The swing guard had career-highs in games started in 2022-23 (19), minutes played per game (26.0), three-point attempts (5.7) and points per game (9.9) all while shooting north of 39% from distance. At just 29 years old, the reserve guard has more impactful basketball ahead of him, and his re-signing ensures more depth for a variety of lineups at the guard/wing spots.
3. Buying low on a recovering Joe Ingles
The last time Milwaukee bought low on an underrated frontcourt talent, it struck gold with Bobby Portis. They decided to go to the well again by taking a flyer on Joe Ingles, who is recovering from an ACL tear that required surgery on February 22. He will be 35 before the start of the season.
Obviously a recovering wing on the backend of 30 isn’t the greatest investment on paper, but the Bucks lacked quality forward depth beyond Giannis throughout the Boston Celtics series. Grayson Allen, Connaughton and even Portis at times all played out of position to compensate for the loss of Khris Middleton at SF when Giannis wasn’t on the floor. So if Ingles can muster up a semblance of his 45% three-point ability from two seasons ago, it will be beneficial to the Milwaukee second-unit.
Most middling
1. Re-signing Wesley Matthews
Matthews was a slightly better two-point and free-throw shooter his second stint with the Bucks this past year, but he still shot worse from distance and from the field on fewer attempts. At 35, signing him to a single-season $2.9 million deal seems a bit backward considering he hasn’t maintained a positive level of offensive ability in three seasons.
Bucks GM John Horst has openly valued Matthews minutes, impact and competitive spirit while guarding some of the best offensive wings this past year. Those are great assets to have on one’s roster, but an aging talent who provides little-to-no consistent offensive production somewhat defeats the purpose of a 3&D backcourt player.
2. Re-signing Serge Ibaka
Like Matthews, it’s fair to assume Ibaka’s best days are behind him. The shot-blocking extraordinaire had his lowest block-per-game total of his career last season in Milwaukee (0.4).
Ibaka showcased flashes of offensive effectiveness during his recent campaign in the Cream City. He made at least six shots from the field three times in the month of March including his 6 for 10 field goal performance against the Phoenix Suns. Yet at 33 years of age, it’s safe to assume Milwaukee will be getting only spurts of Ibaka’s best as he heads into the twilight of his career.
3. Re-signing Jevon Carter to a multiyear deal
Carter has etched out a solid NBA career for himself since being a second round draft pick of the Memphis Grizzlies four years ago. He’s played in over 200 games for four teams, and has added a multiyear extension of $4.3 million to his resume.
The dilemma with the re-sign is that Carter becomes the team’s backup point guard. While Carter has carved himself a nice role as a reserve, the big pay day entrusts him with the responsibility of running the second unit. Carter eclipsed a career-high for assist average in his 20 games played with the Bucks (2.5), but he’s more of a secondary reserve than a primary one. If the Bucks truly wanted to move the needle, getting the likes of a Goran Dragic at a bargained price could’ve done the trick.
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