Milwaukee Bucks

The Milwaukee Bucks have agreed to bring wing Wesley Matthews back to the team on a one-year deal, according to Shams Charania of Stadium and The Athletic.

The 13-year NBA veteran averaged 5.1 points on 39.5 percent shooting (33.8 percent from three-point shooting) in 49 games (14 starts) for the Bucks last season. He also started all 12 of their playoff games, averaging 6.2 points on 39.1 percent shooting and 3.1 rebounds.

Matthews entered the NBA as an undrafted free agent out of Marquette. He's best known for his time on the Portland Trail Blazers from 2010-2015, when he posted 15.4 points per game and helped turned the team into a perennial playoff contender alongside Damian Lillard, LaMarcus Aldridge and CJ McCollum.

The 35-year-old left the Blazers for the Dallas Mavericks in free agency in 2015. He stayed there until 2019, when he was traded to the New York Knicks. He has also played for the Indiana Pacers, Bucks (two stints) and Los Angeles Lakers since then.

Matthews' second Bucks run began on Dec. 3, 2021, when he signed a one-year deal with the team. It will continue into the 2022-23 season as Milwaukee runs it back with the veteran.

Joe Ingles is on the move again, as he agreed to a one-year deal with the Milwaukee Bucks in free agency on Thursday, his wife Renae Ingles announced:

Ingles' 2021-22 season came to an end on Jan. 30 when he tore his ACL while playing for the Utah Jazz in a loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Jazz sent the 34-year-old to Portland as part of a three-team trade with the San Antonio Spurs. Utah received Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Juancho Hernangomez and Elijah Hughes.

Ingles was included in the deal for salary purposes.

Ingles spent the first eight years of his NBA career in Utah before being dealt to Portland.

When the Blazers announced Joe Cronin had been named their full-time general manager on May 10, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported part of his vision for the organization included building around Lillard.

This is a crucial offseason that could determine the long-term direction of the Blazers. Lillard, Anfernee Simons and Nassir Little were all eligible for contract extensions. Cronin traded away CJ McCollum, who had been Lillard's backcourt running mate for nine seasons, in February.

Given how many other decisions Cronin had to worry about with younger players on the roster, Ingles' long-term status with the Blazers always seemed tenuous.

Portland's loss will be the Bucks' gain because Ingles brings a valuable skill set to any NBA roster. He may not be ready for the start of the season coming off a serious knee injury, but as long as there are no setbacks, it shouldn't be long before he's suiting up.

At his best, Ingles will provide the Bucks with an excellent scorer who can stand behind the three-point line and convert passes into points. He has a 40.8 percent success rate from behind the arc in his NBA career.

Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo unveiled the design for his latest signature shoe, the Nike Zoom Freak 4, ahead of the 2022-23 NBA season.

Antetokounmpo re-signed with Nike on a long-term contract extension in November 2017 after hearing pitches from other companies, including Adidas, Under Armour and Li-Ning.

In 2019, Kurt Badenhausen of Forbes noted the Greek Freak was earning $10 million annually from the sneaker deal.

Giannis also teamed with Nike and the card game UNO for a special collection in October.

"I want every product to be genuine and authentic, and playing UNO with my brothers is a big part of our lives," the 27-year-old forward said. "The Nike team has done a great job bringing my ideas to life, and I think they've created something for every Nike, UNO and basketball fan in this collection."

Between his off-court earnings and his salary from the five-year, $228.2 million contract with the Bucks, Antetokounmpo ranked 10th on Forbes' list of the highest-paid athletes in the world for 2022 with a total projected income of $80.9 million.

The 2013 first-round pick has developed into one of the best players of the generation while building a resume that includes a championship with the Bucks in 2021, two NBA MVP Awards and six consecutive All-Star selections.

Antetokounmpo will look to continue building that list of accolades next season, the second year of his contract with Milwaukee that potentially runs through 2025-26.

Mississippi State guard Iverson Molinar is heading to the Milwaukee Bucks after they reportedly agreed to a free-agent deal with him, per Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium.

Molinar was not selected during the 2022 NBA draft on Thursday.

Bleacher Report Draft Expert Jonathan Wasserman's Scouting Report

Player: Iverson Molinar

Position: PG/SG

Height: 6'2"

Pro Comparison: Aaron Holiday

Scouting Report: A down shooting year hurt Molinar's chances of rising up boards, but he was an efficienct scorer inside the arc with one of the draft's best floaters.

After putting up modest numbers as a freshman at Mississippi State, Molinar broke out in a big way during the 2020-21 season and was a high-level scorer in each of his final two seasons with the Bulldogs.

Molinar averaged 16.7 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game as a sophomore while shooting 47.8 percent from the field and a sizzling 43.6 percent from beyond the arc.

His shooting dropped off to 45.4 percent from the floor and just 25.2 percent from long range as a junior, but Molinar improved otherwise with 17.5 points, 3.6 assists, 3.1 rebounds and 1.2 steals per contest en route to being named a First Team All-SEC selection.

The Panama City, Panama, native is one of the most explosive guards in the 2022 rookie class, and he will now look to translate his impressive offensive skill set to the NBA.

Milwaukee Bucks forward Thanasis Antetokounmpo will trigger his $1.9 million player option for the 2022-23 NBA season, according to HoopsHype's Michael Scotto.

The 29-year-old is the older brother of two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo. He made 48 appearances for Milwaukee this past season, averaging 3.6 points and 2.1 rebounds.

The elder Antetokounmpo first signed with the Bucks in July 2019.

"Thanasis is a young player with great experience at the top level overseas," general manager Jon Horst said at the time. "He brings toughness, athleticism, character and a high IQ. We are thrilled to have him join the Bucks."

Thanasis' family connections almost certainly had a helping hand in him getting his first NBA gig since 2016. Giannis had yet to pledge his long-term future to the Bucks, so bringing his brother into the fold certainly didn't hurt Milwaukee's chances of keeping him around.

The Greek Freak eventually penned a five-year, supermax extension in December 2020.

Thanasis has since become a somewhat regular contributor at the end of the bench. He's logging 9.2 minutes per game and putting up 3.1 points on 51.4 percent shooting through 125 appearances with the Bucks. He was on the floor for 45 minutes during Milwaukee's title run during the 2021 NBA playoffs.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Jim Owczarski wrote in May that Thanasis' return was expected and that an opt-out was likely contingent on him re-signing with the Bucks on a minimum deal.

The Milwaukee Bucks are expected to sign Bobby Portis to a new multiyear contract, per longtime NBA reporter Marc Stein on his Substack (h/t RealGM Wiretap).

Portis has been with the Bucks for the past two years. He signed a two-year, $8.9 million contract with Milwaukee in 2021 that carries a 2022-23 player option for $4.5 million, which Portis is expected to decline en route to a new multiyear deal.

The same situation more or less happened in 2021, as Portis signed a two-year, $7.4 million agreement in Nov. 2020 with a 2021-22 player option. Portis declined that option and agreed to a new deal.

The 27-year-old Portis is well deserving of a big raise. He played 72 games (59 starts) and averaged a career-high 14.6 points and 9.1 rebounds along the way.

Portis proved to be an invaluable member of the team as the Bucks got hit with injuries to Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez. He started in their places and proved to be a double-double threat on a game-by-game basis.

The fan favorite helped the Bucks reach the second round of the playoffs and push the Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics to seven games despite the team missing Middleton all series with a sprained MCL. Portis averaged a double-double in the playoffs (10.6 PPG, 10.0 RPG) despite playing just 24.8 minutes per game.

Portis was also a key member of the Bucks' 2020-21 championship squad, posting 11.4 points and 7.1 rebounds per game off the bench in the regular season.

The Bucks should be in contention once again for an NBA title with their Antetokounmpo-led core, and retaining Portis would only help as Milwaukee looks for another deep playoff run in 2023.

Giannis Antetokounmpo is going to miss Darvin Ham, but the Bucks star praised the Los Angeles Lakers for hiring the Milwaukee assistant as their new head coach on Friday, which was first reported by ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

Ham had been a member of the Bucks' staff since 2018. Antetokounmpo was an All-Star in each of Ham's four seasons, named the 2019-20 Defensive Player of the Year and named NBA MVP in both 2018 and 2019.

Antetokounmpo's comments come after Lakers star LeBron James tweeted his excitement about the hiring of Ham who, according to Wojnarowski, "made a strong impression" with the Purple and Gold's brass. 

The Lakers liked Ham's "championship pedigree, his commanding presence, history of coaching stars and toughness," Wojnarowski reported. It comes as little surprise as Ham has coached the likes of Antetokounmpo and was a member of Milwaukee's 2021 NBA title-winning squad. 

That said, Ham will undoubtedly face his challenges in L.A. after the Lakers finished 11th in the Western Conference this season and missed the playoffs after entering the year with high expectations following the addition of Russell Westbrook. 

However, he was arguably the best candidate of the Lakers' reported finalists. Golden State Warriors assistant Kenny Atkinson and former Portland Trail Blazers head coach Terry Stotts were also finalists for the position, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium. 

The Los Angeles Lakers head coaching search has received yet another update following the news that the team had narrowed down its list of candidates to three finalists.

The Lakers hosted former Portland Trail Blazers head coach Terry Stotts for an in-person interview on Tuesday for their vacant head coaching position, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

Milwaukee Bucks assistant Darvin Ham and Golden State Warriors assistant Kenny Atkinson are expected to meet with the Lakers in the near future, Wojnarowski added.

Stotts is said to be "intrigued with potentially coaching Russell Westbrook and believes he can help him be more effective and comfortable with his role than he was last season," according to NBA.com's Mark Medina. 

The Lakers' search for a new head coach is expected to take some time. General manager Rob Pelinka told reporters last month that it would be a "thorough and methodical" process.

The franchise's interest in Stotts comes as no surprise. The 64-year-old has 13 years of head coaching experience, most recently leading the Trail Blazers from 2012-21.

In his nine seasons as Portland's head coach, Stotts went 402-318 in the regular season and 22-40 in the playoffs. He led the Trail Blazers to eight straight playoff appearances but made just one appearance in the Western Conference Finals.

He has also coached the Atlanta Hawks (2002-04) and Milwaukee Bucks (2005-07).

Meanwhile, Ham has made the "strongest impression," according to The Athletic's Shams Charania and Sam Amick. 

In terms of the Lakers' preferences, sources say team officials have prioritized a coach who can command respect and authority from the locker room and who has a strong enough presence and voice to manage the varying roles and relationships across the roster. Those characteristics bode well for Ham’s candidacy.

That said, the Lakers "have not completely abandoned hope" that Philadelphia 76ers head coach Doc Rivers will become available this summer, according to NBA insider Marc Stein. Rivers would be one of the team's top candidates if he was made available. 

The Lakers' head coaching position will be one of the most difficult jobs in the NBA in 2022-23. The next bench boss will be tasked with getting Russell Westbrook back to form and managing the workloads of veterans LeBron James and Anthony Davis, who each dealt with injuries during the 2021-22 campaign.

In addition, the Lakers likely won't have much cap space to make any significant acquisitions in free agency, which doesn't bode well for their chances next season. 

The NBA announced Friday the members of the 2021-22 All-Defensive Teams, with some familiar faces and this season's Defensive Player of the Year headlining the First Team. 

Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart, Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr., Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert, Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo and Phoenix Suns forward Mikal Bridges make up this season's All-Defensive First Team. 

Meanwhile, Miami Heat big man Bam Adebayo, Golden State Warriors veteran Draymond Green, Milwaukee Bucks guard Jrue Holiday, Philadelphia 76ers guard Matisse Thybulle and Boston Celtics center Robert Williams III make up the All-Defensive Second Team. 

Here's a look at the voting:

Smart's selection to the first team comes as no surprise after he was named the Defensive Player of the Year for the first time in his career. This also marks his third selection to an All-Defensive Team. 

The 28-year-old was one of the driving forces behind the Celtics' No. 1-ranked defense this season. He ranked seventh in the league with 1.7 steals per game, tied for six in total steals with 119 and had 19 games with at least three steals.

Smart also finished tied for fourth with 75 loose balls recovered, tied for 10th with 206 deflections and 16 charges drawn. In addition, he finished with 3.2 defensive rebounds per game, the most of his career. 

Jackson, meanwhile, helped the Grizzlies finish with the sixth-best defensive rating in the NBA and the second-best record in the Western Conference. This marks the first All-Defensive Team selection of his career. 

The 22-year-old finished the season averaging 4.3 defensive rebounds and a career-high 2.3 blocks per game. In addition, he finished with 769 contested shots, 63 loose balls recovered, 335 total defensive rebounds, 177 total blocks and 73 steals. 

Gobert is a three-time Defensive Player of the Year and this marks his sixth All-Defensive Team selection. He helped the Jazz finish with the 10th-best defensive rating in the league and was a big reason why Utah finished fifth in the Western Conference standings. 

The 29-year-old averaged 11 defensive rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game. In addition, he finished with 862 contested shots, 727 total defensive rebounds, 137 total blocks, 87 deflections and 28 loose balls recovered. 

Antetokounmpo won DPoY in 2019-20 and this marks his fifth All-Defensive Team selection. He helped the Bucks finish with the 14th-best defensive rating in the NBA and was a big reason why the team finished third in the Eastern Conference. 

The 27-year-old averaged 9.6 defensive rebounds, 1.1 steals and 1.4 blocks per game in 2021-22. In addition, he finished with a total of 612 contested shots, 644 defensive rebounds, 72 steals, 91 blocks, 115 deflections and 64 loose balls recovered.

Bridges finished second in DPoY voting this season and this marks the first All-Defensive Team selection of his career. He helped the Suns finish with the third-best defensive rating in the NBA and the best record in the Western Conference. 

The 25-year-old averaged 3.3 defensive rebounds and 1.2 steals per game this season. In addition, he finished with a total of 168 deflections, 483 contested shots, 273 defensive rebounds, 96 steals and 36 blocks. 

After the Milwaukee Bucks were eliminated from the postseason on Sunday, star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo expressed his gratitude for the year and confidence that the team will bounce back.

Antetokounmpo posted a photo on his Instagram with the caption, "We’ll be back Milwaukee.. Thank you for a great season!!"

The Bucks fell to the Boston Celtics 109-81 in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Sunday. Antetokounmpo led the team with 25 points, 20 rebounds and nine assists. Milwaukee had a 3-2 series lead before dropping back-to-back games.

The defending NBA champion Bucks were once again a favorite to emerge from the Eastern Conference this year. However, the team's chances took a major hit when forward Khris Middleton went down with a sprained MCL in his left knee two games into the postseason.

The three-time All-Star averaged 20.1 points, 5.4 rebounds and 5.4 assists while shooting 37.3 percent from three-point range during the regular season. Milwaukee could've used that kind of production while Antetokounmpo's supporting cast struggled to back him up.

Bucks guard Jrue Holiday couldn't find his touch against Boston, shooting just 36.4 percent from the field and 30.0 percent from beyond the arc in the series. Brook Lopez and Bobby Portis were the only other two players to average more than 10 points in the playoffs.

Nonetheless, with Antetokounmpo leading the way, Milwaukee has a strong core and should remain a title contender next season.