Milwaukee Bucks: Playing buy or sell with 2019 free agents
Pau Gasol
The Milwaukee Bucks brought in Pau Gasol after the Spaniard was bought out of his contract by the San Antonio Spurs. He appeared in three games for the Bucks, scoring just four total points, before an injury sidelined him for the rest of the season and playoffs.
Gasol is a likely Hall-of-Famer, with two rings he earned with Kobe Bryant in Los Angeles. He has expanded his range out beyond the 3-point arc and can still fill it up, while defensively he was a part of solid, conservative scheme that rated well while he was playing in San Antonio — schemes similar to those that Milwaukee favors.
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Yet Gasol will turn 39 before the moratorium lifts in July, and he is not the same player that he was even a few years ago. Injuries and the natural effects of age have sapped him of his ability to play at a high level. His scoring averages have dropped significantly for four consecutive years, culminating in 4.1 points per game last year.
That Gasol — one who will struggle to score and can only defend if he is right in front of the rim — is not of much use to the Milwaukee Bucks. His experience can be a strength in the locker room, but this team needs to maximize its roster spots for players who can help in the postseason, and it is unlikely Gasol will be able to do that.
If he is available at the veteran’s minimum, the team could consider bringing him back to be a locker room presence, but Milwaukee doesn’t appear to be dying for that type of influence. The Bucks can prioritize other players with Gasol’s money and his roster spot.
Verdict: Sell