Bucks predicted to sign one-time All-Star to replace Damian Lillard

Jon Conahan

Bucks predicted to sign one-time All-Star to replace Damian Lillard image

The Milwaukee Bucks need a lead point guard next season, with Damian Lillard expected to be out for much of the year. 

The Bucks could bring back Kevin Porter Jr. or give Ryan Rollins a bigger role, but it remains unclear what the organization plans to do. 

With the point guard position in question, Bleacher Report recently took a look at free agents around the league and predicted the Bucks would land one. 

They predicted that the Bucks would sign D'Angelo Russell, who most recently was playing for the Brooklyn Nets. 

“Russell is a talented scorer and capable shooter, but he has remained a journeyman throughout his career. The Nets may pay him simply to reach the minimum team salary (projected to be $139.2 million), but that might be designed to turn his contract around as a tradable asset.

“Otherwise, he's probably facing a pay cut, and if he can't get a team to give him the full NTMLE, he may have to settle for the TMLE with a team in need of a lead guard who can shoot the three. Prediction: Perhaps the Milwaukee Bucks step up with the best offer at the TMLE,” BR wrote.

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Russell could be a decent buy-low option, but that's even tough to say at times. 

While he's shown signs of being a decent player, averaging 18.0 points for the Los Angeles Lakers in 2023-24 and shooting 41.5% from 3-point range, he had his flaws as a player. 

At this point, about 10 years in the league, Russell is exactly who he's shown to be throughout much of it.

Jon Conahan

Jon Conahan is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. A 2022 Penn State University graduate who majored in journalism, he was also a member of the school's D1 baseball team. His work has been featured on Sports Illustrated, Heavy and other outlets. Jon makes home in North Jersey, but also resides in Cape Coral, Florida, for parts of the year. He’s an avid fan of the New York Yankees, Miami Dolphins and Milwaukee Bucks.