2 extension-eligible players for Milwaukee Bucks in 2022 offseason

Life as a championship contender is expensive. And it only gets more and more costly as time goes on and consecutive seasons in the luxury cap rack up. Such is the life for the Milwaukee Bucks.

Milwaukee has ponied up big money in recent years (fifth in team payroll for the 2021-22 season and seventh in 2022-23), and it’s likely only going to get more expensive in the foreseeable future. The Bucks will be paying Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, Jrue Holiday and Brook Lopez a combined $129.3 million for 2022-23, possibly increasing in future seasons.

The Bucks may only have a few years left with this core before they’re forced to shift on the fly and build another championship contender over the back half of Antetokounmpo’s career. Middleton and Lopez are two of those guys they will have to decide on.

The Milwaukee Bucks have two players who are eligible for extensions this offseason. The question is: Will they extend them?

Middleton was sorely missed in the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs and would’ve been a deciding factor in the Bucks’ favor had he been able to suit up. Milwaukee desperately missed his offensive creation and was dangling in the wind without him on the court.

He’ll make 37.9 million in 2022-23 with a player option for $40.4 million for the following season. The two sides could agree to a contract extension this offseason that would max out at three years and around $152.5 million ($50.8 million a year on average) if he were to exercise his player option first. If he declined his option, he could sign a four-year extension for up to $200.9 ($50.2 million a year on average). While the first extension is only an option this summer, the latter is on the table until the end of next June.

Middleton’s age will become a concern, as he’ll be 31-years-old before this season starts–and before any extension kicks in. His efficiency took a dip last season with his three-point percentage dropping to its lowest rate in five years and his effective field goal percentage slipping to his lowest since 2018-19.

Lopez is the second player who is extension eligible this summer and whom age plays a factor. At 34-years-old, he missed basically the entire season with a back injury before returning right at the very end. He did hold up very well in the playoffs and showed why he’s such a dominating defensive force in the paint.

Milwaukee could sign him for an extension for up to four years and $74.8 million ($18.7 million average)–he is on their books for $13.9 million in 2022-23. That would be a crazy number for a guy who is on the wrong side of 30 and doesn’t provide consistent offense already.

Regardless, Middleton and Lopez are crucial parts of the Bucks’ championship formula, and they’ll probably try to keep them around a bit longer. The Middleton extension is a no-brainer. The biggest question is how much and how long. It’s a lot more complicated for Lopez, but the Bucks will probably try to find a team-friendly deal to minimize the luxury tax hits on their payroll. Stay tuned!