With Core Intact, Bucks Focus On Supporting Roles As Offseason Approaches

With their hopes of repeating as NBA champions snuffed out after a grueling seven-game loss to Boston in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, the Milwaukee Bucks are shifting their focus toward re-claiming their title when the 2022-23 season gets underway a little more than five months from now.

The good news is that the Bucks return all five of their starters next season, including forwards Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton, point guard Jrue Holiday and center Brook Lopez.

That’s not to say general manager Jon Horst will have a quiet, easy summer ahead of him. Milwaukee does have plenty of big decisions looming as the offseason gets underway.

Middleton, who’s value to the team was reinforced when he had to sit out the entire Boston series with a sprained MCL, is eligible for a contract extension that could pay him as much as $152.5 million over the next three seasons — assuming he exercises his $40 million player option for 2023-24.

Key reserve Bobby Portis has become a fan favorite during his two years with the Bucks but stands to land way more than the roughly $4.5 million he earned last season now that he’s an unrestricted free agent.

Money, of course, will be an issue. Though the salary cap will increase to $122 million next season, according to reports, the Bucks already figure to exceed the luxury tax level, which is also increasing next season, to $149 million.

To bolster the roster, Horst will have a pair of exceptions to work with: approximately $6.3 million in a taxpayer mid-level exception and another $1.5 million that came by sending Sam Merrill to Memphis last season.

Here’s an early look at how the Bucks’ roster and salary cap look heading into the offseason:

Signed for 2022-23

• Giannis Antetokounmpo ($42,492,492)
• Khris Middleton ($37,948,276)
• Jrue Holiday ($32,544,000*)
• Brook Lopez ($13,906,976)
• Grayson Allen ($8,500,000**)
• George Hill ($4,000,000)
• Rayjon Tucker ($1,815,677***)
• Luca Vildoza ($1,752,638***)

*– Holiday can earn an additional $5,873,040 in bonuses

** — Allen can earn an additional $1,275,000 in bonuses

*** — Non-guaranteed contract

Along with Middleton, center Brook Lopez is also eligible for an extension this summer. Though he’s been a key cog in the Bucks’ success over the last few seasons, Lopez and his expiring contract could make for an attractive trade chip on the market this summer. Milwaukee could work out an extension with the big man, but at 34 and coming off a back surgery that sidelined him for the first half of the season, it’s a risky proposition for a team already feeling the pinch of the salary cap.

Player Options

• Pat Conaughton ($5,728,393)
• Bobby Portis ($4,564,980)
• Thanasis Antetokounmpo ($1,878,720)

Connaughton and Portis have played significant roles as members of Milwaukee’s “bench mob” and have become fan favorites during their time with the Bucks. That’s especially true for Portis, who could earn up to $50 million over four years should he and the Bucks work out an extension while Connaughton could sign a deal with the Bucks that exceeds the salary cap should he decline his option, under the Bird Rights provision.

Unrestricted Free Agents

• Wes Matthews
• Jevon Carter
• Serge Ibaka

Matthews, 36, just finished his 14th NBA season and the Wisconsin native said he has no plans to retire yet. Ibaka helped the Bucks navigate through some tough stretches in terms of injuries but wouldn’t quite fit if Milwaukee retains both Lopez and Portis while Carter is hoping his strong showing down the stretch will help him draw interest on the open market this summer.

2022 Draft Picks

• First round: No. 24
• Second round: None