The Milwaukee Bucks hit on some of their free agent signings last offseason. Kevin Porter Jr. looks like everything they hoped for and more. Ryan Rollins has been a revelation. Even Gary Harris is providing more than expected.
On the flip side, some of their additions have underperformed. Relative to expectations – but also balanced by absolute contributions – here are the top six most disappointing signings from free agency. (Top six most successful signings here.)
Bucks’ free agency moves that have flopped thus far
6. Chris Livingston, re-signed for one-year, $2.2 million – The Bucks re-signed Livingston to a one-year guaranteed deal two weeks after waiving him. Then they cut him again days before opening night. Obviously they didn’t expect much, but it’s just bad business, plain and simple.
5. Amir Coffey, signed for one year, $2.2 million – The logic is simple. Coffey has given the Bucks almost nothing when they thought they had a useful rotation piece. So confident were they in Coffey that they cut Tyler Smith and Chris Livingston on guaranteed deals to make room on the roster. Needless to say, that looks like an oversight.
4. Taurean Prince, re-signed for two years, $7.1 million – It isn’t his fault. The 10-year veteran played eight games before requiring neck surgery to repair a herniated disc. Before that, he did what the team asked: sit out on the perimeter and hit shots, plus provide a physical presence on the defensive end. But if availability is the best ability, Prince hasn’t exactly paid off the Bucks’ investment.
3. Cole Anthony, signed for one year, $2.7 million – Like Trent, Anthony has been okay. He’s averaging 7.1 points and 4.1 assists on inefficient shooting splits. Staying out of foul trouble on defense is an issue. So are turnovers on the other end. He’s given them something, sometimes, but overall he has been a disappointment.
2. Myles Turner, signed for four years, $109 million – In an absolute sense, Turner has been decent. He’s averaging 12.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks while shooting 38% on threes. That’s not, however, what the Bucks paid for. It looks even worse considering that, in order to sign Turner, they absorbed Damian Lillard’s $113 million for in the waive and stretch maneuver. That’s not Turner’s problem, though, and for ranking purposes, he is considered separate from the Lillard fiasco. Still, he’s making $25 million this season with a lot more coming. Maybe he will flip the switch after fully adjusting to a new team, but the early returns haven’t matched up to the Bucks’ investment.
1. Gary Trent Jr., re-signed for two years, $7.6 million – Trent has been far worse than his box score stats show: 9.8 PPG on 39.9% from the field and 37% from three isn’t flattering, but it’s a lot better than his -14 on/off rating (per Cleaning the Glass). That’s bottom 7% in the league. The Bucks expected Trent to contribute as a volume scorer, but they got a horror show instead. Turner has underperformed, but Trent has actually been bad. Like, really bad, on both ends of the floor. Combined with the expectation that he would be a key offensive weapon and solid wing defender, that’s why he tops the list of the team’s worst offseason additions.
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