Milwaukee Bucks: 3 takeaways from 2019 NBA offseason

2. The Bucks are leveraging familiarity in building their roster

Familiarity is a common thread through a number of NBA transactions, from players returning to teams or coaches they have previously played for, to cities they previously lived in, or to team up with players they are friends with.

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Never has that been more apparent than in the 2019 NBA offseason, and the Bucks leveraged those connections as well.

First, their major moves in free agency were to bring back the core of their contending team from last season. The Bucks won 60 games last season and are set up to once again be near the top of the league. Khris Middleton, Brook Lopez and George Hill are all back on new deals.

Secondly, they made signings along family connections. In the case of signing Thanasis Antetokounmpo, that was more of a favor to their superstar, a goodwill gesture they hope will make him even slightly more willing to re-sign in Milwaukee long-term.

They also went back to the sibling-well in signing Robin Lopez to play backup center behind his brother, Brook.

The room exception is probably the right salary level for Lopez, but he could have signed elsewhere to have a more significant role as a starter with teams such as the Golden State Warriors or Boston Celtics.

To play with his twin brother Robin is accepting a more limited role with Milwaukee.

Finally, the team added a strong piece in Wesley Matthews for the veteran’s minimum. Although Matthews has never played for the Bucks or head coach Mike Budenholzer, he does have a connection to the team.

Matthews went to high school in Madison, Wis., and played college basketball at Marquette University. Not only is Marquette located in Milwaukee, they play home games at the same arena as the Bucks.

Matthews should have a solid role in the rotation for a team replacing Malcolm Brogdon, but surely there was a team willing to sign him for more than the minimum. He becomes just one of many players to sign or re-sign with the Bucks with a level of familiarity with the franchise.