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Milwaukee Bucks: 5 buyout players available for last roster spot

By Brian Sampson

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - MARCH 26: Austin Rivers #25 of the Houston Rockets is defended by Brook Lopez #11 of the Milwaukee Bucks during a game at Fiserv Forum on March 26, 2019 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - MARCH 26: Austin Rivers #25 of the Houston Rockets is defended by Brook Lopez #11 of the Milwaukee Bucks during a game at Fiserv Forum on March 26, 2019 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /
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Friday, April 9 marked a significant day on the NBA calendar as far as playoff teams are concerned. It was the final day a player could be waived from their current team in order to be eligible to sign with a new team and appear in the playoffs. To be clear, teams can still sign someone at any point leading up to the start of the postseason, but that player had to either be a free agent or be waived by Friday. That’s especially important to the Milwaukee Bucks considering they still have one open roster spot.

This year’s buyout market has been especially busy with big names such as Andre Drummond, Blake Griffin and LaMarcus Aldridge all sneaking their way out of their previous contracts with flailing teams and signing with prime championship contenders. It remains to be seen if they’re still capable of impacting the postseason race with their on-court play.

At this point, the buyout and/or free agent market is slim pickings–as is to be expected with just over one month remaining in the regular season. It’s littered with a number of former Bucks such as Thon Maker, Jabari Parker, Kyle Korver, Marquese Chiss, Brandon Knight and Frank Mason. There are other noticeable names who likely don’t have anything left in the tank. Those players include Dion Waiters, Omari Spellman and Allen Crabbe.

After scouring through the deepest, darkest, nastiest depths of the free agent pool, I plucked five players out who Milwaukee should take a look at for their last roster spot.

With one last open roster spot remaining, the Milwaukee Bucks have a number of ways to fill it with remaining NBA free agents.

Top 5 buyout candidates for Bucks: Shabazz Napier, point

The Bucks already signed Jeff Teague from the buyout pool to serve as their backup point guard and the move has worked pretty well so far. Teague has looked rejuvenated and is playing some of his best ball of the season. However, Jrue Holiday and Teague are the only true points on their team and the Bucks could use a third in the case of an emergency.

That’s where Shabazz Napier enters the picture. Still just 29-years-old, he hasn’t played in the NBA this season and we last saw him in 2019-20 with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Washington Wizards.

He’s an undersized point who understands how to run offenses and uses his basketball I.Q. to his advantage. He likes to penetrate defenses and get his shots up, however, he provides little spacing to his teammates with a questionable outside shot. He wouldn’t move the needle (none of these guys really would) toward an NBA Championship, but would provide much-needed depth in a back-heavy NBA schedule.

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