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4 tools Milwaukee Bucks have to improve roster in 2022 offseason

By Brian Sampson

BOSTON, MA - MAY 01 Head coach Mike Budenholzer of the Milwaukee Bucks looks on during Game One of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on May 1, 2022 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 - MAY 01 Head coach Mike Budenholzer of the Milwaukee Bucks looks on during Game One of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on May 1, 2022 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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With the Milwaukee Bucks’ core of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday under contract for at least another season, they’ll have to figure out a way to improve in the margins if they want to return to the NBA Finals.

They still have a few internal decisions to make about who they want to retain, but they’ll also have to decide which routes they want to maximize when it comes to adding to their roster. The good news is they have a few distinct routes to improving their team this offseason. Let’s take a look at how they can get better.

The Milwaukee Bucks have these four primary tools at their disposal if they want to improve their roster over the offseason.

Veteran Minimum Contracts

Milwaukee is officially a destination for veteran free agents chasing a ring. They signed a few of these guys last year including Rodney Hood, Semi Ojeleye and Wesley Matthews. The former two didn’t work out, but Matthews was a huge early-season addition for the Bucks. I’m sure they’ll try their hand once again to round out the bottom of their roster.

$1.5 Million Trade Exception

If the Bucks want to acquire a player via the trade market, they could use their $1.5 million trade exception to help match salaries. It wouldn’t be usable on its own, but they could attach it to a player like Brook Lopez or someone else in a deal to allow Milwaukee to take back more salary. This trade exception was created when they shipped Sam Merrill to the Memphis Grizzlies last season and they have until July 7th to use it.

24th Pick in the Draft

The Bucks desperately need some young talent on the roster who could develop and grow into larger roles in the future. They haven’t been very successful in the draft in recent seasons (Donte DiVincenzo in 2018 was the only real contributor they’ve drafted in the last five years) and will likely take another crack at it this year. Given how far over the luxury tax the Bucks already are, a draft pick could be a cheaper way to add talent for the foreseeable future. If Milwaukee does want to trade it away, they wouldn’t be able to do so until draft night.

Next. Milwaukee Bucks upcoming free agents. dark

$6.4 million Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception

The biggest path to adding to their roster is the $6.4 million taxpayer mid-level exception. Milwaukee can re-sign Bobby Portis and Pat Connaughton without tapping into this fund, giving them a huge opportunity to bring in another veteran who can help push the Bucks over the top. This amount of money isn’t a lot on the surface, but the Bucks will certainly try to attract a veteran in search of a ring and who could get more elsewhere.

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