More than a few Milwaukee Bucks fans were intrigued by Donte DiVincenzo’s recent decision to turn down his player option with the Golden State Warriors for this coming season. The 26-year-old opted out of a guaranteed $9.2 million in order to test the waters of NBA free agency. The objective for DiVincenzo here is to secure a better deal from a team that will be willing to offer him a bigger and a longer-term contract than what would have been a one-year extension in Golden State.
At this point, it’s no surprise that Bucks fans have had their interest piqued by this development. After all, Donte was an integral part of Milwaukee’s historic 2021 title run, and supporters would love to see him back in a Bucks uniform in the near future.
Bucks Fans Want Donte DiVincezno Back In Milwaukee
Naturally, the first thing that came to mind for Bucks fans after hearing DiVincenzo’s contract decision with the Warriors is a potential Milwaukee reunion with the 6-foot-4 shooting guard. Bucks supporters took to Twitter to share their hopes of seeing Donte back in the fold:
Want Donte DiVincenzo back on the @Bucks so bad
— Lurp (@a_Lurp) June 29, 2023
divincenzo you are once again a milwaukee buck
— EndZone (@lumxnodragonoid) June 28, 2023
Donte DiVincenzo, YOU are a Milwaukee Buck! https://t.co/O9NfAzyBZO
— Lucas (@RealLucaso345) June 27, 2023
I respect DiVincenzo’s game, as I do for most former Wildcats. I remember when the Bucks tossed him in on the now-reversed Bogdan Bogdanović-to-Bucks trade and thought the Bucks were crazy.
— Chase (@chasecameron_) June 27, 2023
DiVincenzo clearly left an impression on Bucks fans during his three and a half seasons with the team. In case you forgot, it was Milwaukee who pulled the plug on him last year when they sent him to the Sacramento Kings as part of a four-team trade with the Los Angeles Clippers and the Detroit Pistons. In return, the Bucks got Serge Ibaka and two second-round picks.
That’s all water under the bridge now, and for his part, Donte knows that it was all about business. There’s no hard feelings involved, and while there has been no official report on this, it would not be surprising if DiVincenzo, at the very least, would be open to a potential reunion with the team that drafted him in 2018.
The Warriors Can Still Retain The Services Of Donte DiVincenzo
DiVincenzo was an integral part of coach Steve Kerr’s rotation last season, and he was a steadying force off the bench for the Warriors. In 72 games played (36 of which he started), the former Villanova standout put up averages of 9.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.5 asissts, and 1.3 steals in 26.3 minutes per contest. Donte also spread the floor for Golden State, knocking down a career-best 2.1 three-pointers per game on 39.7-percent shooting.
Given all this, it would probably be safe to assume that the Warriors wil do whatever they can to keep DiVincenzo in the Bay Area. However, whether or not they are willing and/or able to shell out upwards of $9 million per year for him on a new deal remains to be seen.
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