3 players Milwaukee Bucks must bring back in the 2021-22 NBA season

#2 Brook Lopez

2021 NBA Finals - Game Six

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

2021 NBA Finals - Game Six

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.