Signed players: Brook Lopez
One of the best rim protectors in the league, Brook Lopez once again proved his defensive prowess in the 2022 NBA playoffs. The 34 year-old missed most of the season with a back injury, but came back like he never left when it mattered most, stopping practically every Celtics shot at the rim.
However, he’ll be entering the last year of his contract next season. At that point, who knows how physically capable the big man will be. Additionally, his inability to guard ball-handlers on the perimeter force Milwaukee into a drop coverage most of the time, a defensive scheme that most modern offenses can exploit greatly on a nightly basis.
It’s not out of the realm of possibility that Lopez finds himself on another team to start next season. At the very least, the Bucks need to acquire another big man to gain flexibility in terms of defensive scheme.