The Milwaukee Bucks roller coaster of a season ended with a first round exit in the Eastern Conference playoffs. They had a 2-1 lead against the Toronto Raptors and had their opportunities to go up 3-1 and potentially pull off an upset. Brand new General Manager Jon Horst has some decisions to make on his free agents as we move closer to July 1st.
Tony Snell (SG, Restricted)
Acquired from Chicago before this season in exchange for Michael Carter-Williams, Snell was a great fit for Milwaukee’s starting lineup and is no doubt Milwaukee’s top priority for re-signing. Snell started in all 80 games he played this year, averaging 8.5 points (46% FG, 41% 3Pt, 81% FT), 3.1 rebounds, and 1.2 assists over 29.2 minutes per game. His points, field goal percentage, three-point percentage, rebounds, and assists and minutes per game were all career highs for Snell, who just completed his fourth NBA season. The numbers on paper don’t astound you, but his ability to knock down threes is coveted so highly in today’s professional basketball. The Bucks have publicly said they hope to re-sign Snell to a long term deal but may have a tough time matching other teams’ offers.
Michael Beasley (SF/PF, Unrestricted)
Similar to Snell, Beasley was acquired from Houston before the season as an aid for Khris Middleton, whom the Bucks lost for the first 50 games of the year due to a torn hamstring. Beasley was in and out of Bucks Head Coach Jason Kidd’s rotations all season long, fighting for time with Jabari Parker and Mirza Teletovic. Beasley averaged 9.4 points (53% FG, 42% 3Pt (both career highs), 74% FT) and 3.4 rebounds over 16.7 minutes per game. With Jabari Parker likely out until the 2018 all-star break, Beasley could find some playing time with Milwaukee, but that time could and will likely go to first round draft pick DJ Wilson. Since being drafted second overall in 2008, Beasley hasn’t spent more than two years consistently with an NBA franchise.
Jason Terry (PG/SG, Unrestricted)
With 18 NBA seasons under his belt, the JET is still finding his way onto the floor. His days as a starter who can produce in the upper teens every night are well-over, but he is a very charismatic guy who could teach these young Bucks how to be great. Terry was apart of the 2011 NBA Champion Dallas Mavericks team along with Jason Kidd, and the entire Bucks organization enjoyed his presence all season long. Terry has openly stated he would like to “be with something special” and re-sign with Milwaukee for the 2017-18 season, which will likely be the case.
With Spencer Hawes ($6M) and Greg Monroe ($17.88M) both opting-in to their final years of their contracts, the Bucks remain very tight with cap space and unless they free that up, they won’t be able to go out and get a marquee free agent that would make them serious contenders in the Eastern conference.
