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The Milwaukee Bucks finally achieved their goal of winning the NBA championship in the 2020-21 season.
They took all the necessary steps on and off the court to make sure they were able to claim their first title in 50 years. From signing a super-max extension with Giannis Antetokounmpo to acquiring a player like Jrue Holiday, it all paid off for the Milwaukee Bucks. To repeat the success they had last season, they will have to be an active team in the 2021 offseason as well.
It won't be easy, though, as they have a huge salary bill for next season with Giannis' and Holiday's extensions set to kick in. As per Spotrac, the Milwaukee Bucks are well over the tax apron. They have roughly $141.7 million in cap allocations heading into free agency.
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Some key role players like Bryn Forbes and Bobby Portis are likely to depart in free agency. Recent reports have stated they have or are set to decline their respective player options. As per Bobby Marks of ESPN, both players outplayed their contracts by a combined sum of $16.3 million. The Bucks do not have bird rights on them and cannot go over the salary cap to re-sign the two stars. The most they can offer is 120% more on their contracts from last season.
The two stars will likely receive better offers on the open market. To win back-to-back championships, the Milwaukee Bucks must manage to keep the majority of their squad intact. Portis and Forbes would have been two players the Bucks would have wanted to re-sign, but it looks unlikely at the moment.
On that note, considering Forbes and Portis leave, let's take a look at three other players the Milwaukee Bucks must bring back for next season to have a healthy chance of defending their NBA title.
#3 Pat Connaughton
Pat Connaughton played a crucial role off the bench for the Milwaukee Bucks last season, especially in the playoffs. The swingman proved he is one of the most efficient 3-and-D wings in the league. Connaughton's trade value could be at its peak right now and he will be a wanted man if the Bucks actively shop him. However, there aren't many quality players that the Bucks could receive in exchange for him.
His energy and ability to adapt to different kinds of situations make him a special player to have. Connaughton was the most reliable bench player for the Milwaukee Bucks all season. He played the most minutes among their bench unit. He can score, rebound, and do the small things that help the team's leading stars a lot when they struggle. His influence on the game is way more than what the box scores show.
Connaughton's finals performance against the Phoenix Suns was a prime example of his efficiency. He played 30 minutes on average, scoring 9.2 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. He shot 42.3% from the three-point line on 5.7 attempts, which goes to show how composed he can be in pressure situations.
It explains why the Milwaukee Bucks shouldn't cash in on Connaughton just yet. He could help them immensely next year as well, and is certainly one of coach Mike Budenholzer's favorite players.
#2 Brook Lopez
Brook Lopez is owed the fourth-highest salary behind Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday next season. He is set to earn roughly $13.3 million in the 2021-22 campaign. Lopez is an ideal trade candidate for cost-cutting purposes.
But after the kind of stellar performances he produced in the championship run last season, it wouldn't make sense for the Milwaukee Bucks to trade him right away after winning the NBA title, especially if they are looking to win it again.
He played a crucial role last season and is expected to do well next year as well. Lopez averaged 13 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game in the postseason. His presence as a floor spacer and a solid post player, along with his size, gives the Milwaukee Bucks multiple benefits of having him on the floor.
Lopez has two years left on his contract, including next season, which gives the Milwaukee Bucks the leverage to keep him for another season. Unless the Bucks can acquire a better player to play at the five than Lopez, it wouldn't be a sensible proposition for them to trade him right now.
There aren't many efficient bigs who can do what Lopez does, available on the open market, either.
#1 PJ Tucker
Unlike Bobby Portis and Bryn Forbes, the Milwaukee Bucks could make a push to re-sign PJ Tucker in free agency. That's because they have bird rights on him and won't have salary cap restrictions to re-sign him. Tucker proved to be a vital cog for the Bucks during the 2021 NBA Playoffs.
With Donte DiVincenzo sidelined, the Bucks had Tucker switch to a starting role for the team. Tucker's elite defensive skills proved to be a major help for the Milwaukee Bucks in their championship run. His high IQ on defense and ability to guard the opposing team's best player was crucial for the franchise.
The series against the Brooklyn Nets was the highlight of why Tucker is so important to the Milwaukee Bucks. He took up the challenge of guarding an elite scorer like Kevin Durant to ease the pressure on the likes of Giannis, Middleton and Holiday on defense.
The Bucks won't have the resources to find a replacement for PJ Tucker in free agency. They will only have the mid-level taxpayer exception ($5.9 million) and veteran minimum contracts to offer to free agents. Keeping these factors in mind, the Milwaukee Bucks should look to go all out in their bid to keep Tucker with the squad again.
