Milwaukee Bucks: 3 takeaways from 2019 NBA offseason

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3. The Bucks are building for the long-term

The Milwaukee Bucks handed out a lot of money in contracts over the past few months, paying high annual salaries on long-term deals for a number of veteran players. This team is clearly focused on contending next season.

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Yet many are criticizing the Bucks for not matching the contract of Malcolm Brogdon, specifically criticizing their ownership for not being willing to pay the tax for a contending team.

There is some validity to that, as the Bucks could have matched Brogdon’s contract and still brought back Brook Lopez and Khris Middleton.

If the Bucks were simply focused on convincing Giannis Antetokounmpo to sign the designated player extension coming his way next summer, they may have focused on maximizing their production next season.

But the Bucks are not focusing on the short-term with this team. With Antetokounmpo, the reigning MVP of the league, just 24 years old, the Bucks want to be set up to contend with him for years to come.

Bringing back Brogdon by matching his exorbitant offer sheet would almost certainly have been an overpay. He is an excellent player with a modern game, the perfect off-ball piece to put around Antetokounmpo.

But paying over $21 million per season for such a player is a very steep price, one most acknowledge is an overpay.

Milwaukee also did not simply let Brogdon walk, but instead brought back three draft picks from the Pacers. With two first-round picks outstanding from recent trades this helps to rebuild their cupboard and give them ammunition for a potential in-season trade.

Losing Brogdon for nothing would have been painful; trading him for draft capital, avoiding his onerous contract and signing Wesley Matthews to replace him in the short-term looks like a smart, future-focused move.

The Bucks are building for this year and the future and there is wisdom in that.

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