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5 free agents the Milwaukee Bucks missed out on

By Brian Sampson

BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 11: Rodney Hood #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts in the second half during a game against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on February 11, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 11: Rodney Hood #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts in the second half during a game against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on February 11, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) /
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BOSTON, MA – FEBRUARY 11: Rodney Hood #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts in the second half during a game against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on February 11, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – FEBRUARY 11: Rodney Hood #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts in the second half during a game against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on February 11, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) /

The Milwaukee Bucks made a couple free agent moves this summer. However, they dropped the ball by not going after these five guys.

The Milwaukee Bucks‘ general manager was aggressive as he could be in adding players to a roster that was already strapped by the salary cap. Horst only had a couple of pots of money to pull from with the mid-level exception being the biggest one.

He ended up signing a trio of players in Ersan Ilyasova ($7 million a year), Brook Lopez ($3.4 million) and Pat Connaughton ($1.6 million). All three players figure to help the Bucks spread the floor and give players like Giannis Antetokounmpo more room to work with. However, there were a couple of players who would’ve been a better use of Milwaukee’s money. Let’s take a look at five free agents they missed out on.

5. Aron Baynes

Aron Baynes is the complete opposite of Lopez. Where Lopez can step outside and knock down threes, Baynes is much more of a bruiser inside. Where Lopez relies on skill and fundamentals to get his buckets, Baynes relies on brute strength and hustle. Defensively, Lopez is a complete liability where Baynes thrives on that end of the floor.

Baynes certainly wouldn’t have helped the Bucks spread the floor, but he would’ve given them a good screener and someone who can body with stronger bigs down low. That’s something they lacked with John Henson and Thon Maker. Baynes is also great defending in the pick-and-roll. Did you see him shut down Antetokounmpo in those situations in the playoffs?

Baynes signed a two-year deal for an average of $5.3 million per season. If Milwaukee agreed to those terms with Baynes, it would have left them about $6 million to work with, more than enough to sign at least one other impactful free agent.

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