After the closure of the NBA trade deadline, the Milwaukee Bucks, like other teams, shift their focus to the buyout market. Players waived before March 1st become eligible to join a new team and participate in the playoffs.
In recent deadline deals, the Bucks acquired Patrick Beverley from the Philadelphia 76ers, exchanging Cameron Payne and a 2027 second-round pick. Additionally, they sent Robin Lopez and cash to the Sacramento Kings for the draft rights to Dimitrios Agravanis, creating roster flexibility for potential buyout additions.
General Manager Jon Horst expressed the team’s interest in utilizing this flexibility, stating, “That’s part of the bet is that we think we will have a chance to do that. I think we will.” He acknowledged the availability of several released players and anticipates potential impact additions to the team.
Considering this, here are 15 players the Bucks might consider from the buyout market:
**Backcourt:**
– Elfrid Payton, Suns*
– Frank Ntilikina, Mavericks*
– Shake Milton, Trail Blazers*
– Delon Wright, Unattached
While the backcourt has been addressed with the acquisition of Beverley, there is room for additional depth, with Delon Wright being a preferred choice due to his size and compatibility with the existing backcourt players.
**Wings:**
– Cedi Osman, Spurs
– Danuel House, Pistons*
– Otto Porter Jr., Jazz
– Furkan Korkmaz, Pacers*
– Wes Matthews, Hawks
The Bucks lack a wing-stopper and might target players like Osman, Porter Jr., or Matthews for this role. Osman, in particular, would be a surprise waive but could be a valuable addition to the team.
**Bigs:**
– Thaddeus Young, Nets*
– Chimeziu Metu, Grizzlies*
– Danilo Gallinari, Pistons*
– P.J. Tucker, Clippers
– Kevin Knox, Jazz
– Lamar Stevens, Grizzlies
To strengthen the frontcourt, Thaddeus Young stands out as the best fit, offering the flexibility to play Giannis Antetokounmpo at the 5 while maintaining a strong defensive presence.
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