This season may be Milwaukee’s best chance at a title, as the team has many players set to hit the open market in free agency this summer. Sources tell Tim Bontemps of ESPN.com that ownership’s willingness to go deep into the luxury tax may be dependent on how far the Bucks advance.
Khris Middleton is likely to turn down his player option and hit the market. Malcolm Brogdon will be a restricted free agent. Brook Lopez will almost certainly want a raise on his one-year, $3.38MM deal. And Nikola Mirotic, who the team added at the trade deadline, will pursue a new contract as well.
The Bucks are not against becoming a taxpaying team. They have to do everything they can to surround Giannis Antetokounmpo with a strong supporting cast and give him every reason to sign a super-max extension once he’s eligible next summer. However, if the team with the best record in the league can’t get past the fourth-seeded Celtics, the decision to go deep into the luxury tax becomes a tough one.
The first of their many offseason decisions will likely involve Middleton, and Bontemps writes that the shooting guard is likely to see max contract offers. The Mavs reportedly will be among the teams looking to poach him from Milwaukee.
Seems stupid, so if the team make the finals this year they aren’t going to spend to try to improve it? After the year they’ve had they should be doing everything possible to keep their window open. Giannis should be playing for a team willing to do whatever it takes.
I don’t think you read what you think you read
careful not to p/o the greek freak
I still have a feeling that Khris Middleton will become a huge free agent bust unless he re-ups with the Bucks. I am just seeing the next Chandler Parsons in him if he leaves. I realize it is a completely irrational belief, but I still have it. They say everyone has a little bit of psychic tendencies, so maybe that one is mine. I think I would have preferred maybe knowing a lottery result, but you go with what you got.
Unlike Chandler, Middleton has only had one injury-shorted seaon in the last six. Statistically, by Buck standards, he is not a top antler. I would value Brogdon more. To be worth the money he will likely get, he needs to be a key player in culture formation. This could happen in Dallas.
I understand your logic and I know it is irrational, but I just can’t shake the feeling.