Bucks Stars' Jrue Holiday & Brook Lopez high-five during game against Cleveland - Photo by Behind The Buck Pass
MILWAUKEE, WI (WSAU) – The Milwaukee Bucks are planning a comeback with two key players in 2023-24.
According to reports, the team is highly likely to re-sign three-time all-star Khris Middleton and all-defensive pick Brook Lopez for the 2023-24 season.
“The working assumption around the league is that both Middleton and Lopez will stay in Milwaukee,” Mark Stein reports. “But even that comes with considerable uncertainty because A) no one knows yet how much it will cost to re-sign them and B) if the Bucks will have any flexibility to make the moves they need to make to freshen up the rest of the roster.”
After the 2022–2023 season, Lopez’s contract expires, making him an unrestricted free agent. Middleton’s situation is a bit more complicated with a player option worth $40.3 million in 2023–2024. He was said to be considering opting out, which would make him a free agent this summer, according to Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints.
In just 33 games in 2022–23, Middleton averaged 15.1 points, 4.9 assists, and 4.2 rebounds. These numbers were lower than in his prior seasons, but if he were to become an unrestricted free agent, it is anticipated that he would still have a substantial market.
The Bucks are expected to pay the luxury tax for a third straight season, and adding Middleton and Lopez would increase that amount.
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