Milwaukee Bucks

The Milwaukee Bucks "have not totally closed the door" on bringing back veteran guard George Hill next season, according to ESPN's Ramona Shelburne and Brian Windhorst.

Only $1 million of Hill's contract for 2019-20 is guaranteed, with Milwaukee having until Tuesday to decide whether to waive him or pay him his full $18 million salary. The Bucks are expected to waive him and consider bringing him back on new terms.

The 33-year-old was acquired from the Cleveland Cavaliers in a three-team deal last December.

While being used mostly in a reserve role for the first time since 2012, Hill helped the Bucks win an NBA-best 60 games in 2018-19. He averaged 6.8 points on 42.8 percent shooting while logging 20.4 minutes per game in 47 appearances for the team.

Of note, his 31.4 percent three-point shooting was the lowest of his 11-year career. He had shot better than 40 percent from distance in each of the three previous seasons.

Hill's regular-season numbers may not have stood out, but he stepped up when asked to take on a bigger role during the postseason, averaging 11.5 points on 53.4 percent shooting, including 41.7 from beyond the arc, in 26.3 minutes per game. 

With Hill's solid performance, the Bucks made it out of the first round for the first time since 2001, ultimately falling to the eventual champion Toronto Raptors in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Milwaukee's attention this offseason will likely center around unrestricted free agent Khris Middleton and restricted free agent Malcolm Brogdon. Per Shelburne and Windhorst, Brogdon signing elsewhere could lead to Hill returning.

Malcolm Brogdon is expected to receive significant interest when free agency begins Sunday.

Per ESPN.com's Ramona Shelburne and Brian Windhorst, the Chicago Bulls, Phoenix Suns, Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks could consider signing Brogdon, a restricted free agent, to an offer sheet. 

The Celtics' interest in Brogdon depends on what happens with Kemba Walker. ESPN.com's Adrian Wojnarowski reported Thursday that Boston is the front-runner for the All-Star point guard and will offer him a four-year, $141 million deal at the start of free agency.

The Bulls have been connected to Brogdon for some time. ESPN's Bobby Marks reported on the June 20 episode of The Jump they could give him an offer sheet worth $80 million over four years.

Brogdon has only spent one year of his career as the primary point guard, but the Suns have spent years desperately searching for anyone who can start in the backcourt with Devin Booker. Brogdon's versatility on offense and solid defensive skill set would make him a strong partner with Phoenix's 22-year-old star.

Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium reported Dallas is prepared to offer Kristaps Porzingis a five-year max contract worth $158 million when the two sides meet June 30. If Porzingis agrees to that deal, the Mavs, who currently have $46.96 million in cap space, may not be able to afford Brogdon if his salary gets into the $20 million-per-year range.

The Milwaukee Bucks will have the option to match any offer sheet Brogdon agrees to, though they are also facing big roster decisions this summer. Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez, among others, are unrestricted free agents, and Giannis Antetokounmpo is eligible to sign the largest contract in NBA history next summer.

Brogdon is coming off the best season of his career in 2018-19, as the 26-year-old averaged 15.6 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. He also made 50.5 percent of his field-goal attempts (42.6 percent from three) in 64 games.

For the second time in his career, Mike Budenholzer is the NBA Coach of the Year after leading the Milwaukee Bucks to the league's best record during the regular season.

Budenholzer beat out Michael Malone of the Denver Nuggets and Doc Rivers of the Los Angeles Clippers for the honor.

The @Bucks' Mike Budenholzer accepts the 2018-19 Coach of the Year trophy! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/0f4hcaJKy8

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) June 25, 2019

Budenholzer was hired by the Bucks in May 2018, three weeks after he parted ways with the Atlanta Hawks. While all the focus last offseason was on LeBron James joining the Los Angeles Lakers, Milwaukee landing Budenholzer turned out to be the most impactful signing of the summer.

The Bucks went from a mid-tier Eastern Conference franchise to the best team in the NBA overnight. They won 60 games for the fifth time in franchise history and first time since 1980-81.

One of the biggest changes Budenholzer made was emphasizing the three-point shot.

"Coach Bud wants us to shoot more threes," Bucks guard Malcolm Brogdon told The Athletic's Eric Nehm in October. "A lot more threes."

The Bucks went from 25th in three-point attempts per game in 2017-18 (24.7) to second with 38.2 this season. Even though their percentage actually went down (35.5 to 35.3), the increased attempts helped the offense lead the league in points per game (118.1) and rank fourth in efficiency.

For all of the attention the team's offensive philosophy got, the Bucks also led the NBA in defensive efficiency (105.2 points allowed per 100 possessions).

The biggest difference Budenholzer made was unlocking the full potential in Giannis Antetokounmpo. The 24-year-old set career highs with 27.7 points, 12.5 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game.

He's also got a chance to become the first player since Hakeem Olajuwon in 1993-94 to win NBA MVP and Defensive Player of the Year in the same season.

In an excellent year for coaches around the NBA, Budenholzer was the clear standout for everything he brought to the Bucks. The 49-year-old made himself one of the league's best coaches during his five seasons with the Hawks, which included a 60-win campaign and Coach of the Year in 2014-15.

The 2018-19 season showed Budenholzer belongs on the short list of best coaches in the NBA right now. He's got the hardware to prove it.

Giannis Antetokounmpo, not James Harden, is the real NBA MVP. The Bucks superstar led his team to the No.1 seed and the league's best record.

Watch the video above for more about why Giannis should be crowned the new King of the East.

  

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The Toronto Raptors earned the ultimate team award in 2018-19, winning their first NBA title. Monday, at Barker Hangar in Los Angeles, the NBA will recognize the best individual performances of the campaign.

Raptors forward Pascal Siakam may have another reason to celebrate; he's a finalist for Most Improved Player. The 25-year-old recorded a memorable 32-point outing in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, but how does his full-year body of work compare to those of the other candidates?

Three of the top five picks from last year's draft list as nominees for Rookie of the Year in a tight race, but one first-year player possesses a unique skill set. Who stood out above the group?

The Sixth Man Award lists two candidates on the same squad, which may result in bragging rights between teammates.

Houston Rockets guard James Harden is looking to claim consecutive Most Valuable Player honors. Will we see a new rising star take the crown?

Check out the viewing information below to tune into the ceremony. We'll break down the candidates, Bovada's MVP odds (h/t Sports Betting Dime) and make a projection for each of the top six awards.

                    

2019 NBA Awards Info

Date: Monday, June 24

Start Time: 9 p.m. ET 

TV: TNT 

Live Stream: TNTdrama.com or TNT app

                

Candidates and Predictions

Most Valuable Player 

Candidates: Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee) -1,000, Paul George (Oklahoma City), +5,000 James Harden (Houston) +450

Based on odds taken June 13, Giannis Antetokounmpo is the front-runner to win league MVP. Among the three candidates, he's the only player to average a double-double, 27.7 points and 12.5 rebounds per contest, with a top-10 defensive rating (99.4) last year. The 24-year-old ranks second in the latter category.

James Harden claimed his second scoring title with 36.1 points per game last season; he also led the league in win shares (15.2). Regardless of the criticism about his playing style, the seven-time All-Star made the most free throws in the league (754), 232 more than Philadelphia 76ers center Joe Embiid, who's second on the list. The 29-year-old carried a bigger load in Houston because of Chris Paul's evident decline.

Paul George put together his best year as a pro, averaging career highs in points (28), rebounds (8.2), steals (2.2) and triples (3.8) per contest. Perhaps he's trending upward as an equal to star playmaker Russell Westbrook in Oklahoma City. While that remains to be seen, his 2018-19 campaign propelled him into the MVP discussion.

Antetokounmpo suited up as the best player on a 60-win team that clinched home-court advantage throughout the playoffs. He's more productive on the defensive end than Harden and doesn't have a teammate averaging a triple-double like George. The 24-year-old should take home his first MVP award Monday.

Prediction: Giannis Antetokounmpo

        

Rookie of the Year 

Candidates: Deandre Ayton (Phoenix), Luka Doncic (Dallas), Trae Young (Atlanta) 

We can throw team success away in this race for Rookie of the Year; none of the finalists reached the playoffs, but they all registered productive seasons to start their respective careers on the right foot.

Deandre Ayton put together a solid year, averaging a double-double, 16.3 points and 10.3 rebounds per game, but he didn't have an extraordinary impact on the court. The 20-year-old provided a reliable big body in the paint capable of grabbing boards and scoring easy buckets around the basket. 

Ayton didn't stretch the court with a 6.7' average in shot distance from the hoop; he had a good but not great year. 

Trae Young came into the league as advertised, a dual-threat point guard with deep range on his shot and cerebral court vision. He averaged 19.1 points and 8.1 assists per contest, but the 20-year-old must work on scoring efficiency to elevate his game.

Young shot 42 percent from the floor and 32 percent from beyond the arc. He will likely focus on shot selection going forward, but that hole in his game may hold him back from this award.

Luka Doncic influenced the game in more ways than Ayton and Young. He can shoot the three-ball, drive to the hoop and facilitate with pizazz to bring his teammates into the flow of the game. The 6'7" guard separates himself from Young with a willingness to crash the boards, averaging 7.8 per game. The 20-year-old looks like the total package.

Prediction: Luka Doncic

        

6th Man Award

Candidates: Montrezl Harrel (Los Angeles Clippers), Domantas Sabonis (Indiana), Lou Williams (Los Angeles Clippers)

Domantas Sabonis saw a moderate improvement in scoring and rebounding between his second and third seasons. Still, he's not a threat to pull up on jumpers further than 10 feet away from the basket. The limitations in his offensive game without extraordinary numbers should drop him to third among the finalists. 

Montrezl Harrell doesn't provide offensive versatility either, but he's a notable presence on defense, swatting 110 shots—the most on the Clippers roster last year. On the flip side, the coaching staff can't feel comfortable with his 64 percent free-throw shooting. In a tight game, he's not the ideal player with the ball in his hands.

The Los Angeles Clippers traded Tobias Harris to the Sixers before this year's deadline. Among players left on the roster, Lou Williams led the team in scoring (20) and assists (5.4) per outing.

On an All-Star-less squad, Williams, coming off the bench, stepped on the court as the Clippers' top talent. He's the go-to playmaker who helped this team to an improbable eighth seed in the postseason.

Prediction: Lou Williams

          

Defensive Player of the Year

Candidates: Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee), Paul George (Oklahoma City), Rudy Gobert (Utah) 

We can't statistically restrict the Defensive Player of the Year winner to steals and blocks. Let's dig further into impact via advanced analytics.

All three players list within the top five in defensive win shares—an estimate on the number of wins for a player because of his defense. Rudy Gobert lists second (5.7), Antetokounmpo third (5.5) and George fifth (4.9).

George led the league in steals, but he's 14th in defensive rating with 104.6 points scored on him per 100 possessions. Antetokounmpo (99.4) and Gobert (100.4) list second and fourth in the category, respectively.

We're splitting hairs with defensive ratings between Antetokounmpo and Gobert, but the Milwaukee Bucks star can defend all five positions and provides better perimeter resistance with the ability to attack the passing lanes because of his lateral quickness and reach.

Gobert can deny the best penetrators near the basket at an impressive rate, but Antetokounmpo can step outside the painted area and challenge shooters as well. He's going home with two awards Monday.

Prediction: Giannis Antetokounmpo

                 

Most Improved Player

Candidates: De'Aaron Fox (Sacramento), D'Angelo Russell (Brooklyn), Pascal Siakam (Toronto)

The race for Most Improved Player doesn't seem as close compared to the other awards. All three competitors deserve mentions, but one player went from a mediocre No. 2 overall pick, coming off an injury-riddled campaign, to an All-Star: D'Angelo Russell.

De'Aaron Fox refined his shot selection, resulting in improved efficiency, turning himself into a 46 percent shooter—up from 41 percent as a rookie. He also developed into a more effective passer, with 7.3 assists per contest. Still, the 21-year-old must continue to expand his range.

Siakam holds a strong argument for the honor because he transitioned from a modest contributor off the bench to the Raptors' second-best player behind Kawhi Leonard in some outings. He finished behind the team's top playmaker in points per game (16.9) during the regular season and elevated his offensive impact through the playoffs, averaging 19 points in 24 contests. 

If not for Russell's ascension to All-Star status, Siakam would probably claim this award. The Brooklyn Nets guard stepped on the court as the best player for a club few expected to reach the playoffs. He averaged 21.1 points and seven assists as the team's clear-cut lead playmaker and a major component of their sudden rise. 

Prediction: D'Angelo Russell

                

Coach of the Year 

Candidates: Mike Budenholzer (Milwaukee), Michael Malone (Denver), Doc Rivers (Los Angeles Clippers)

Doc Rivers deserves props for taking an All-Star-less squad to the postseason in the West. Despite the team's decision to trade its best player, Harris, the Clippers won 48 games, which seems like a testament to great coaching.

The Denver Nuggets challenged the Golden State Warriors for the No. 1 seed in the West but fell three games short. On a positive note, Michael Malone's group established the strongest home-court advantage during the regular season, 34-7 at Pepsi Center, and finished with the fourth-best overall record.

The Bucks didn't reach the NBA Finals, but Mike Budenholzer guided the club to a No. 1 seed in the East with a 60-win campaign. After eight consecutive first-round exits, Milwaukee advanced past the field of 16 into the conference finals. 

It took Malone four years to lead the Denver Nuggets to the playoffs. In May 2018, Budenholzer accepted the head-coaching job in Milwaukee and immediately turned this squad into a championship contender.

Prediction: Mike Budenholzer

                   

Advanced statistics provided by Basketball Reference.

Khris Middleton will officially become a free agent after declining his $13 million player option for 2019-20, according to ESPN.com's Adrian Wojnarowski.

The option was the final year of his original five-year, $70 million contract signed in 2015, which was front-loaded. He will now have the opportunity to potentially earn a max contract on the open market, which could pay him north of $30 million per year.

Wojnarowski added Middleton "is expected to command a five-year max contract to stay with the Bucks – or a four-year, max deal elsewhere in the NBA."

The 27-year-old is coming off an outstanding season as the No. 2 option on the best team in the NBA during the regular season. The wing averaged 18.3 points per game while setting career highs with 6.0 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game.

These efforts helped the Bucks finish an NBA-best 60-22 on the season while also giving him his first career All-Star selection.

Although this served as a bit of a breakout year nationally for Middleton, he was arguably even better in 2017-18 when he averaged 20.1 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game. His all-around effort helped him finish last season ranked 36th in the entire league with 6.9 win shares, per Basketball Reference. 

He has been an elite perimeter defender throughout his time in the NBA and has continued to improve on the offensive end over the past few years. Adding in a 38.8 percent career mark from three-point range, he can fit in any system and be a key player.

The Bucks would love to keep him on the roster next to Giannis Antetokounmpo, although there will likely be plenty of demand throughout the NBA.

Wherever he ends up, Middleton will likely continue being one of the top two-way players in the NBA. The only difference is he will now be getting paid like one.

The Milwaukee Bucks are looking to unload some salaries heading into Thursday’s NBA draft.

According to Marc Stein of the New York Times, the Bucks are "offering draft compensation this week in hopes of finding a team willing to take on the contract of Tony Snell or Ersan Ilyasova via trade" so they can "create added flexibility to retain" their spot atop the Eastern Conference after finishing with the league's best record.

Snell is under contract for the upcoming season for more than $11.3 million in base salary and has a player option for the 2020-21 campaign that is worth north of $12 million. Ilyasova is under contract for $7 million in base salary for the upcoming season, but his deal is not guaranteed beyond that.

That Milwaukee is looking to add flexibility at this stage of the offseason is no surprise considering Khris Middleton has a player option for the 2019-20 campaign and can become a free agent.

Middleton is just 27 years old and coming off his first All-Star campaign that saw him average 18.3 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.3 assists a night while shooting 37.8 percent from three-point range as the No. 2 option alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo. He figures to command a head-turning offer this offseason, and moving Snell or Ilyasova would put the Bucks in a better position to re-sign him and look to the future.

Elsewhere, Brook Lopez is an unrestricted free agent this offseason after he established himself as an outside shooter in Milwaukee's rotation and hit 36.5 percent of his triples as a matchup problem.

There's also the looming question of Antetokounmpo, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent following the 2020-21 campaign. He is arguably the best player in the league and will undoubtedly require a maximum contract in the future, which is something the Bucks front office has to constantly balance while making other decisions.

Teams probably aren't looking to do the Bucks any favors after their breakout campaign in 2018-19, but the possibility to add draft capital may just convince one of them to take Snell or Ilyasova.

Veteran center Pau Gasol, an impending unrestricted free agent, said Thursday he's hopeful of re-signing with the Milwaukee Bucks for the 2019-20 NBA season.

Gasol spoke about his future with Spanish newspaper Diario AS during an event at the Pau Gasol Academy in Barcelona (via EuroHoops).

"I would be positive and I would like to continue with the Bucks of course," he said. "That's why I left San Antonio and I did to join this team, which I think has real potential to win the championship. It was close this season, we fell to Toronto in the playoffs. I don't know if my presence would have helped to beat Toronto or not."

Gasol signed with the Bucks in March after being released by the Spurs once he completed his recovery from a stress fracture in his foot. He made just three appearances for Milwaukee before suffering an ankle injury that ended up costing him the rest of the season.

The 38-year-old big man played just 30 games during the 2018-19 season because of the injuries. He's just one year removed from averaging 10.1 points, 8.0 rebounds and 3.1 assists across 77 appearances for the Spurs, suggesting he can still be a solid reserve.

When Milwaukee signed Gasol, head coach Mike Budenholzer said superstar forward Giannis Antetokounmpo was particularly excited about the opportunity to play with the two-time NBA champion.

"To hear him talk with such reverence about Pau and everything he's done in his career is pretty cool," Budenholzer told reporters in March. "I think he's going to fit in really well with us. His experiences and his IQ are going to be really valuable for us."

Two other members of the Bucks' frontcourt rotation, center Brook Lopez and power forward Nikola Mirotic, are set to hit the open market this summer, meaning Milwaukee will likely look for cost-effective depth.

So, while it wouldn't be surprising if Gasol re-signs, the front office will likely handle other issues on its summer to-do list before deciding whether to offer him a new deal.

The Milwaukee Bucks announced a multi-year contract extension for general manager Jon Horst on Friday.

Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reported earlier Friday that Horst signed for three additional seasons.

Gery Woelfel, a former Bucks beat writer for the Journal Times, reported on his own website that Horst was looking for a raise with one season left on a three-year deal signed in 2017.

Milwaukee finished a league-best 60-22 and made the Eastern Conference Finals this season.

Horst, whom Wojnarowski called an Executive of the Year candidate, hired ex-Atlanta Hawks head coach Mike Budenholzer to lead Milwaukee in 2017.

Budenholzer has led the team to a 104-60 record in two seasons, and its 60-22 mark last year was the team's best record since the 1980-81 campaign. The Bucks also made the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in 18 years.

Horst also made a few key player transactions that helped lead to the Bucks' 60-win campaign.

First, he traded for Phoenix Suns guard Eric Bledsoe in 2017.

The nine-year veteran, who averaged 15.5 points, 5.5 assists and 1.5 steals last season, ranked ninth among qualified point guards in defensive real plus-minus, per ESPN.com.

Second, Horst signed center Brook Lopez to a one-year deal this past offseason. Lopez was a perfect complement to the remaining Bucks starters, as his ability to space the floor with his three-point shooting (36.5 percent) helped Milwaukee finish first in points per game.

Horst, 36, has been with Milwaukee since 2008 when he joined the team as its Director of Basketball Operations.

While the Milwaukee Bucks don't have to worry about Giannis Antetokounmpo's free agency until 2021, the franchise may have to rethink who to pair with him should Brook Lopez opt to leave as a free agent this summer.

According to Sporting News' Sean Deveney, the Bucks might consider adding Charlotte Hornets center Frank Kaminsky: 

"The Bucks have a quandary in the frontcourt with the possibility that big man Brook Lopez was so productive this season that he played himself out of Milwaukee's price range. [...]

"Kaminsky was on the outs for most of the season in Charlotte, and according to sources, the Bucks attempted to trade for him at the deadline but were turned down and eventually acquired Nikola Mirotic. As free agency approaches, expect Milwaukee to have Kaminsky as an option again should the Bucks lose Lopez."

Kaminsky was very popular in Wisconsin as a collegiate star for four years with Wisconsin Badgers. The 7-footer was drafted by Charlotte No. 9 overall in 2015.

Since then, Kaminsky has started only 23 games but appeared in 282. Across his four-year NBA career, he is averaging 9.8 points, four rebounds and 1.6 assists. 

Kaminsky is set to become a restricted free agent.

While restricted, a divorce between Charlotte and Kaminsky may be best for both sides. In February, Deveney reported that the 26-year-old was "very frustrated" as buyout talks with the Hornets stalled. 

"Kaminsky had the impression that he could work out a buyout and finish the year someplace where he could play more regularly," Deveney wrote at the time. "Teams that were interested in him at the deadline would, naturally, have a chance to sign him on the buyout market." 

It seems now that the Bucks, who were one of those interested teams at the deadline, could sign him as a restricted free agent. 

Milwaukee's preference would probably be to keep Lopez, who was extremely valuable in his lone season as a Buck, especially in the postseason.

A playoff CAREER-HIGH 29 points from Brook!! #FearTheDeer pic.twitter.com/EUfRznOw2J

— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) May 16, 2019

While Milwaukee signed the veteran last summer as a free agent and only had to pay him $3.3 million this season, he most likely will capitalize on the free agent market this summer, so writes SB Nation's Kristian Winfield: 

"No, he's not going to command a max contract, but he won't be a minimum contract player either. We've never seen a big man reinvent his game so drastically 11 years into his career. Lopez's play, in a way, is setting the market and paving the way for future players to do the same.

"The unfortunate part is it will be tough for Milwaukee to retain him. They already signed Eric Bledsoe to a longterm contract extension, and item A on the off-season to-do list will be re-signing Khris Middleton to a max or near-max contract. Malcolm Brogdon's restricted free agency is also approaching. It costs to keep championship contenders together, and Milwaukee does not have Lopez's Bird Rights, meaning they can't match any offer that's above 120 percent of his current salary."

Brodgen, Middleton, Mirotic and Pau Gasol are some of the other Bucks who could hit free agency this summer, according to ESPN.