With 17 players holding standard contracts, the Bucks will have to part with at least two of them by opening night, but working out playing time for an imbalanced roster may be an even bigger challenge, writes Eric Nehm of The Athletic. The two-year contract that Pete Nance signed in July is non-guaranteed, so he’s an obvious candidate to be waived unless he has a really strong showing during training camp and the preseason. If general manager Jon Horst can’t work out a trade, Milwaukee will have to add to the $22MM in dead money that’s already on its cap due to waiving and stretching Damian Lillard and Vasilije Micic.
Horst observes that new head coach Taylor Jenkins will have a difficult task finding enough minutes for everyone in an overcrowded backcourt. Former coach Doc Rivers often used Ryan Rollins and Kevin Porter Jr. together last season, but that may not be an option after acquiring Tyler Herro and Kasparas Jakucionis in a trade with Miami and taking Brayden Burries with the 10th pick in the draft. A.J. Green and Caris LeVert are also in the mix, and Gary Trent Jr. will be expecting a larger role after re-signing for a reported $64MM over four years.
Another part of the equation, Nehm notes, is whether the Bucks plan to keep or trade Herro, who’s currently eligible for an extension. If they’re hoping to move him in the next few months, he may be the focus of the offense as the season begins in hopes of increasing his trade value.
There’s more from the Central Division:
- Sources tell Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com (subscription required) that the Cavaliers continue to explore trade possibilities involving Dennis Schröder in an effort to free up money for the pursuit of Jonathan Kuminga or Peyton Watson. Schröder will make $14.8MM this season and $15.5MM in 2027/28, and Cleveland hasn’t been able to find a taker who’s willing to commit to two more seasons for the 32-year-old guard.
- The lawyer for Cavaliers guard James Harden confirmed that he completed his community service before a misdemeanor gun charge was dismissed Friday, per Kathleen Ortiz of The Houston Chronicle (subscriber link). “What happened to James is the same thing that is happening regularly, he was not using the weapon and he was courteous and appropriate toward the officers,” attorney Rusty Hardin said. “There is nothing unusual that happened here, this is a regular resolution.”
- The Bulls probably added enough talent this summer to stay out of the three-team “relegation zone” that would cost them a ping pong ball in next year’s lottery, Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times states in a subscriber-only story. In addition to drafting Caleb Wilson and Dailyn Swain in the first round, Chicago landed free agent guard Norman Powell on a contract that includes a team option for the second season and could in high demand by the trade deadline. Cowley ranks the Bulls’ current roster as 25th best in the league, ahead of New Orleans, Brooklyn, Milwaukee, Memphis and Sacramento.