Milwaukee Bucks: Ranking 10 best 2021 buyout options

The Milwaukee Bucks weren’t active at the NBA Trade deadline, but that wasn’t a complete surprise since they made a mega deal before the season and another trade a week before the frenzy. Now, the attention turns to the buyout market as there are plenty of candidates who could potentially part ways with their current team and be free to sign with a new team of their choosing.

Although it’s still early to tell exactly who will get bought out, this list ranks the top ten options of likely buyout candidates. It’s not a ranking of the best players potentially available. Instead, it takes the Bucks’ needs into consideration. Two of the Bucks’ biggest needs at this point in the season are adding another ball-handler (they don’t have a true backup point guard since trading away D.J. Augustin for P.J. Tucker) and adding a defensive wing with some height (Donte DiVincenzo (6-foot-4), Bryn Forbes (6-foot-2) and Pat Connaughton (6-foot-5) don’t necessarily cut it).

It’s still early and not all of these players will become available, but let’s rank the 10 best likely buyout candidates and which ones the Bucks should target.

The Milwaukee Bucks have a couple of open roster spots which means they can be active on the buyout market. Let’s rank their top potential options.

1. Otto Porter

Porter was traded to the Orlando Magic on Thursday and the rebuilding Magic could decide to give him a longer look. However, if they let him go he’ll be the best player out there and someone who could fill a niche for Milwaukee. Porter can both shoot the three (a career 40.4 percent three-point shooter) and play wing defense. Both of those skills would be huge for the Bucks.

2. Cory Joseph

These next four guys could probably be bunched together depending on which skill Milwaukee prioritizes. Joseph is clearly the best defensive option among them and that would be his biggest selling point on the market. He can also initiate Milwaukee’s offense even if he’s not a creator himself.

3. Austin Rivers

Many Bucks’ fans are clamoring for Austin Rivers to join the squad. Although I was against Milwaukee trading assets for him at the deadline, I’m perfectly okay with him joining on the buyout market. Rivers can create his own shot a bit and handle the rock some. Although I worry about his defense and shot selection.

4. Jeff Teague

Teague has played amazing against the Bucks in two games this season so maybe he’d play just as amazing on the Bucks. One could dream. Teague comes in ahead of Ellington because he’s a true point guard and I feel the Bucks already have someone in Forbes with much of the same skill set as Ellington. Teague would likely get some regular season run but would be relegated to bench duty come deep playoff time.

5. Wayne Ellington

If the Bucks prioritize shooting then Ellington is likely their man. He’s knocking down an amazing 43.1 percent of his threes this season and is a dangerous off-ball threat. He’d provide Giannis Antetokounmpo and company even more spacing on the perimeter.

6. Avery Bradley

On the opposite end of the spectrum is Bradley. He was traded to the Houston Rockets and they might not have a need for him. He’s a defensive savant and would provide the Bucks with yet another tough defender. His offense is a huge question mark, however.

7. Sterling Brown

This was a name I didn’t expect to see, but The Athletic’s John Hollinger listed him as a potential candidate. Milwaukee could use someone with his size on the wing even if he’s mediocre both in his shooting and his wing defense.

8. James Ennis

Ennis is a hard-nosed defender who would give Milwaukee another agitator against good wing players. The biggest question mark is his offense where he provides very little. Although, he is making 43.3 percent of his threes this season.

9. Kelly Olynk

Olynk is yet another member of the Rockets who makes his way onto this list. Talent-wise, he’s one of the best potential buyout candidates available. However, Milwaukee is much more set with their bigs than they are with their wings or guards. Olynk would provide a nice floor-spacing option, but it would be difficult to see how he’d get playing time over Antetokounmpo, Tucker, Bobby Portis or Brook Lopez.

10. Gorgui Dieng

Dieng is a low-key attractive buyout candidate for teams who need another reliable big. Again, I’m just not sure that’s the Bucks. He plays underrated defense, can move his feet some when matched up against smaller players, and shoots well from the outside. One of the best parts is he knows his role and doesn’t try to do too much.