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Milwaukee Bucks 2022 buyout market Big Board

By Brian Sampson

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - NOVEMBER 20: Gary Harris #14 of the Orlando Magic looses the basketball going up for a shot during the first half of the game against the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum on November 20, 2021 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Bucks defeated the Magic 117-108. 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 John Fisher/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - NOVEMBER 20: Gary Harris #14 of the Orlando Magic looses the basketball going up for a shot during the first half of the game against the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum on November 20, 2021 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Bucks defeated the Magic 117-108. 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 John Fisher/Getty Images) /
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The Milwaukee Bucks were unsurprisingly active at the trade deadline by acquiring forward/center Serge Ibaka in a four-team deal. Now, they’ll turn their attention to what they hope is a fruitful buyout market.

Before we dive headfirst into the buyout market, however, let’s review what the Bucks’ roster looks like just so everyone at home is on the same page. Milwaukee traded away Donte DiVincenzo to the Sacramento Kings and Rodney Hood and Semi Ojeleye to the Los Angeles Clippers in return for Ibaka, two second-round picks and cash.

Oh, and then Pat Connaughton went and broke his hand in their Thursday night game against the Phoenix Suns, leaving them very short-handed on the wing.

That leaves Milwaukee with two open roster spots that will become three once Greg Monroe’s 10-day contract expires. They’re likely hoping to be active on the buyout market in order to fill out their roster, but there aren’t expected to be many wings available. Let’s rank the nine best buyout candidates who Milwaukee will likely pursue.

With the 2022 NBA buyout market upon us, let’s rank the best players who could be released that the Milwaukee Bucks would be most interested in.

1. John Wall

2. Gary Harris

3. Goran Dragic

4. Robin Lopez

5. Eric Bledsoe

6. Cory Joseph

7. Tristan Thompson

8. Mike Muscala

9. Paul Millsap

Wall has been sitting on the Houston Rockets’ roster all season long and wasting away. They don’t appear to have any plans to use him despite him being healthy. That could lead to a buyout agreement now that the trade deadline is past and the Bucks would be a sensible landing spot. They need another point guard behind Jrue Holiday and George Hill (who has dealt with injuries all year long). He could still have some gas in the tank and we’d love to see how that plays out in Milwaukee.

Harris is the closest thing to a wing on the buyout market which could make the Bucks jump at this opportunity (he’s played 83 percent of his minutes at shooting guard and 14 percent at small forward this year according to Cleaning the Glass). He’s a typical three-and-D player that would fit in amazingly on Milwaukee’s roster. I almost ranked him ahead of Wall considering the Bucks’ present need on the wing.

Dragic, Bledsoe and Joseph are all options at point guard as well. Dragic would be intriguing as he seemed to still have some juice left last time we saw him. He’s been sitting all season for the Toronto Raptors so he could be fresher than the other guys. Bledsoe would hit the feels if he returns to a bench role instead of a prominent starting one.

Despite trading for Ibaka, Milwaukee could also look for another guy to add to their frontcourt rotation. Lopez would be insurance for his brother in case the Bucks run up against Joel Embiid in the playoffs. However, when he was in Milwaukee for their last playoff run, he racked up a few DNP-CD. Thompson, Muscala and Millsap would just be warm bodies in the case of an emergency.

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