You can smell it; it’s so close you can nearly taste it. NBA free agency. Yes, it’s that time of year again, where teams convince themselves that their new recruits will put them over the top in the coming campaign. And despite all the lamenting that free agency is “dead,” you know you’re just as excited about it as I am (shout out to joebucks2014onward for getting the discussion started!).
NBA free agency officially opens on June 30 at 5:00 p.m. CT and, following the annual moratorium period, players
can sign new contracts starting on July 6—which also just so happens to be when the Milwaukee Bucks’ trade with the Miami Heat can officially be completed.
Roster outlook
Currently, the Bucks project to have the following depth chart:
That’s 16 players already, not counting Cormac Ryan and undrafted rookie centre, Rafael Castro, who are on two-way contracts.
Of course, with player options still on the table for Taurean Prince and Gary Trent Jr. (though he’s expected to opt out), a team option on Andre Jackson Jr., and the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade still to be finalised, the roster certainly remains in a state of flux. It likely will for an extended time too—teams can carry up to 21 players in the offseason, but have to reduce that to 15 standard contracts and up to three two-way contracts by opening night.
Needs
As it stands, the Bucks are loaded in the backcourt—at least with potential—with too many talented players and not enough minutes to go around, so you’d have to think there’s an expansion of the Giannis trade or a separate trade coming, most likely involving Herro or Porter. There’s always the option to waive and pay out a contract if needed as well, not that that’s likely to happen with any of Milwaukee’s guard prospects.
In the frontcourt, however, the same dilemma doesn’t present itself. Milwaukee looks set at centre, with Ware and Turner likely to split minutes (if Turner isn’t also traded) and Sims providing depth. On the wing, Jaquez, Ament, and Dieng, should he be retained, seem to have the minutes covered. However, the power forward position looks more like the pantry at the end of the week—there’s some options, but they’re not quite what you feel like, and certainly not enough to nourish you moving forward.
Having said these thing, Taylor Jenkins could opt to go with two wings and one big. Ament and Dieng certainly have the height to play the four, even if they don’t yet have the bulk. Jaquez does have the bulk and actually played an estimated 50% of his minutes at the four for the Heat last season (per Basketball Reference). Alternatively, Jenkins could opt to use any of the three centres at the power forward position, with Sims seeming the better option due to his ability to defend on the perimeter.
All things considered, though, the power forward position looms as the Bucks’ biggest area of need and something they may look to address in free agency. To do this, they have access to the non-taxpayer mid-level exception (MLE), just over $15m, and the biannual exception (BAE), $5.5m—they just can’t cross the first apron if they use either. They also have a $25.5m trade exception created in the Giannis trade.
Free agents
A complete list of free agents can be found through the NBA’s 2026 free agent tracker. At the four, notable names include:
- LeBron James
- Peyton Watson
- Kelly Oubre Jr.
- John Collins
- Tobias Harris
- GG Jackson (RFA)
- Jonathon Kuminga
- Rui Hachimura
- Julian Champagnie
- Tari Eason (RFA)
Of these, you can rule out LeBron, Watson, Harris, and Champagnie, who are likely back with their current teams or eying an alternative contender if they do move. Collins, coming off a $27m contract, is likely too expensive, as are Hachimura and Kuminga, though they could conceivably be options. Jackson is unlikely for the opposite reason—he’s on a super-friendly team option at just $2.4m (i.e., likely to be picked up). That leaves Tari Eason, a restricted free agent coming off his rookie contract. A long, defensive type with three point range, he’d seemingly fit in well with Jenkins, and he’s only just 25 years old so is on a similar timeline to many of the young Bucks. But it wouldn’t be surprising—it’s perhaps even likely—that he returns to Houston.
How do you see the Bucks’ free agency panning out? Should they target a power forward, or does someone else at another position tickle your fancy? Trades, signings, targets, let us know your thoughts.
