10 Bigs Milwaukee Bucks Should Target In 2023 Free Agency

The Milwaukee Bucks could be looking to add another big man to their rotation for their upcoming season, and it’s safe to say free agency offers some intriguing options.

The only certainty is that Giannis Antetokounmpo will be back next season. Brook Lopez is an unrestricted free agent, with whispers about the Houston Rockets trying to steal him becoming more audible. Bobby Portis is under contract as well, but there have been questions about whether Milwaukee will trade him in an attempt to upgrade their bench.

Let’s explore ten big-man free-agent options for the Bucks, considering the question marks surrounding their current roster.

Jeff Green

It is uncertain whether Jeff Green, who has been residing in Denver for the past two years and played a crucial role in the Nuggets’ recent NBA championship victory, would be open to relocating to a different city. He played the Wes Matthews role with Denver, playing sparingly in the regular season before turning up for the postseason. He still has some athleticism left and would fit in well alongside Antetokounmpo and, hopefully, Lopez.

Dario Saric

Dario Saric isn’t the same player he was before he tore his ACL in 2021, but can still be a useful rotational big man. He fits in the traditional mold of someone who orbits the three-point line, spacing the defense away from the basket. He’s a career 36 percent three-point shooter and could play that role well in Milwaukee.

Jaxson Hayes

If the Bucks are looking to inject youth, potential, and athleticism into their roster, they should give Jaxson Hayes a long, hard look. Hayes fell out of favor with the New Orleans Pelicans last season and is hitting unrestricted free agency as a result. He would be a cheap option for the Bucks.

Justise Winslow

Signing Justise Winslow would support the moves the Bucks just made in the NBA Draft. Winslow can do a little bit of everything and is probably best classified as a forward instead of a big. Adding him to the team would provide Milwaukee with an additional player capable of facilitating for his teammates, securing rebounds, and sparking fast breaks.

Kevin Love

The Bucks have already been rumored to be interested in Kevin Love’s services, so this is a real possibility. Love is a savvy veteran who knows how to play winning basketball. He can still knock down threes, is a great outlet passer, and tremendous communicator. He also knows what it takes to win an NBA Championship.

Derrick Jones Jr.

The Bucks desperately need more athleticism on their roster and Derrick Jones Jr. would certainly bring that. He’s another player who is more of a forward, but could slide to the 4 in certain lineups. He’s not going to score a lot of points or knock down threes, but he will make the gritty plays championship teams need.

Keita Bates-Diop

Keita Bates-Diop had a remarkable season, scoring an average of 9.7 points per game. His impressive improvement in shooting from beyond the arc was the main factor behind this increase in his scoring output. In previous seasons, his three-point shooting percentage never exceeded 33 percent, but in the 2022-23 season, he managed to connect on almost 40 percent of his attempts. It remains to be seen if this level of performance can be maintained over time.

Bismack Biyombo

Bismack Biyombo still has a touch of athleticism left and would be an intriguing fourth big man for the Bucks. He flies around the court, doing whatever he can to deter the opposing team from scoring at the rim. He’s undersized so wouldn’t help with some of the bigger centers, but he would be a switching-type defensive center.

Mo Bamba

Mo Bamba was just waived by the Los Angeles Lakers and will certainly get looks from teams across the NBA landscape. If Milwaukee re-signs Lopez, they can offer Bamba the rare opportunity to play for a championship contender while also getting mentored to take over the long-term center spot in Milwaukee. After a slow start to his career, Bamba needs to find a way to right the ship.

Brook Lopez

Lopez should be the Bucks’ first order of business when free agency begins on Friday (assuming a Khris Middleton deal is already completed). The Bucks need their big man to anchor the defense and make everyone’s life easier. They will certainly offer him a good amount of money, the consistency to remain in Milwaukee, and an opportunity to win another NBA championship. That will be hard to beat.