Milwaukee Bucks: 3 questions the Bucks must properly resolve

What decisions will the Milwaukee Bucks face in free agency?

Initially, general manager Jon Horst and the Milwaukee Bucks will have to decide between who to maintain and who to let go. Unrestricted free agents for the Bucks this offseason include Pat Connaughton and Kyle Korver, assuming that both Wesley Matthews ($2.6 million) and Robin Lopez ($5.0 million) pick up their player options for next season. Marvin Williams was a productive asset to the Bucks after Milwaukee scooped him off the buy-out market this season, but Williams recently announced his deserving retirement.

Korver has also thought about retirement as a 39-year-old veteran but has stated that he will talk with his family over time before coming to a final decision. It wouldn’t be surprising if the sharp-shooter called it a career after 17 seasons in the NBA. The Bucks could be interested in re-signing Korver on another one-year deal, but only if they can’t find any better positional options on the market that are more defensive-minded.

Connaughton, however, seems likely to return on a similar deal to the two-year, $3.3 million contract that he signed with Milwaukee in the summer of 2018. Coach Bud values Connaughton as a consistent rotation piece to the so-called ‘Bench Mob’ and even played him more in the postseason than he really should have. His athleticism, shooting, hustle, and locker room presence are all solid reasons to bring back the 27-year-old on an inexpensive contract.

In addition, Sterling Brown, Frank Mason III, and Cam Reynolds will all become restricted free agents for the Bucks this offseason. Realistically, Frank Mason III would be the only player out of that group that Milwaukee would consider extending by matching his qualifying offer of $1.5 million.

To fill out the roster, the Bucks should prioritize signing a stretch four, 3 and D wing, and perimeter shooters to come off the bench. Available free agent options that may intrigue Milwaukee could include Paul Millsap, Markieff Morris, Jae Crowder, Justin Holiday, Joe Harris, Damyean Dotson, possibly Jerami Grant, and we’ll throw in Kostas Antetokounmpo for the hell of it.