In an extensive interview with Eric Nehm of The Athletic, Bucks general manager Jon Horst explained the thinking behind many of the team’s offseason moves, including contract agreements with Khris Middleton, Brook Lopez, and Jae Crowder.
Some of Horst’s most interesting comments were about signings that will certainly be less impactful than the new deals for starters like Middleton and Lopez. For instance, in discussing the team’s minimum-salary deal with Malik Beasley, the Bucks’ GM indicated that he believes that Milwaukee’s system and personnel can put the 26-year-old swingman in position to thrive.
“I think that he could benefit from playing with a guy like Giannis (Antetokounmpo) and Khris and Jrue (Holiday) and our system,” Horst said. “You’ve seen in the past. We’ve had players who are good shooters and really become kind of elite shooters in our system. I think he’s one of those guys that is capable of doing that because, again, he has a willingness and a desire to let it go and he’s proven that he can make it efficiently.”
The fact that the Bucks were able to get Beasley to sign for the veteran’s minimum could pay off in a big way, according to Horst: “He’s really ready to prove to the league that he’s better than where his market was this year, and I think it’ll be a great fit.”
Here’s more on the Bucks:
- Asked about the lack of a backup point guard on the roster, Horst told Nehm that Milwaukee is “at peace with where we’re at right now,” pointing out that the team has “a lot of secondary ball-handlers,” along with guards Lindell Wigginton and Omari Moore on two-way contracts. However, he didn’t close the door on a possible addition at that spot. “I think (head coach Adrian Griffin)’s excited for that challenge to figure out how we utilize it and we’ve ultimately made a talent bet on where we wanted to put our money and our minutes and felt like we could cover that position with the roster we have,” Horst said. “If that doesn’t work, we’ll figure it out.”
- The contract that No. 36 overall pick Andre Jackson signed with the Bucks is a four-year, minimum-salary deal using the NBA’s new second-round pick exception. Only the first year is fully guaranteed, Hoops Rumors has learned. The second year is 50% guaranteed (approximately $946K) while the third season is non-guaranteed and the fourth is a team option.
- A.J. Green‘s new three-year contract with the Bucks also has just one guaranteed season, Hoops Rumors has learned. Green will earn a guaranteed $1.9MM salary in 2023/24, with non-guaranteed minimum salaries in each of the following two years.
Who are the point guards who can help?
Erik Murdock and Lee Mayberry
Point-Giannis and Middleton along with Holiday should be enough ball handling and passing.
I 100% agreed with everything he said about having enough guards, and playmaking, and shooting, and defense. I also think Beasley will fit really strongly there, although I think it could cut into certain people’s playing time
I thought they were their best, most depth, team last year, but they never played those guys for some reason
Carter and Ingles are gone. So their minutes need to go somewhere. PatC wasn’t that good last year, so maybe his minutes should be reduced anyway. And anything to keep 50 year old Wes Matthews off the floor can’t be a bad thing.
Luke, didn’t the Bucks sign Livingston to a four-year deal with the new second-round exception? Do teams have the ability to use that multiple times/on as many second-round draftees that they have? I’d figured it was a one-time use…
It can be used multiple times — similar to the rookie scale exception for teams with multiple first-rounders.
Isn’t jazian gortman also on a two way with Milwaukee?
There are rumors he will be — nothing official yet.
Marshon Beauchamp can handle the back up point guard duties. He is markedly improved and having a great summer.