The Milwaukee Bucks are the one successful team this season that is barely ever talked about when it comes to championship expectations, yet they seem to be doing everything right as of late. They became the first team to clinch a playoff spot in the NBA with a win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night, all while adding to what they have, and more importantly, nailing down the great things they already hold. That includes point guard Eric Bledsoe, who received a four-year, $70 million contract extension on Friday before their game at the Staples Center. Bledsoe went on to lead the Bucks in scoring with 31 points in a 131-120 win over the Lakers. The win was their seventh in a row, which gives them the NBA's best record at 48-14.
Bucks general manager Jon Horst said on Friday that the two sides had agreed on the deal, but was still moving forward on finalizing it. Bledsoe was on pace to become an unrestricted free agent this summer, but has already expressed his want to play the rest of the prime of his career in Milwaukee. The 29-year-old is averaging 15.9 points, 5.5 assists, and 4.7 rebounds per game, as he is looking to finish with a career-high 49 percent mark from the field for the season. He was acquired by the Bucks from the Phoenix Suns early in the 2017-2018 season, and has nine years of NBA experience with the Suns, Bucks, and Los Angeles Clippers.
Meanwhile, the Bucks also added to their size down low, not that they don't already have enough of that, agreeing to a deal with veteran Pau Gasol This comes after Gasol agreed to a buyout with the San Antonio Spurs, which was announced on Friday night. Players had to be waived by 11:59pm EST. in order to be available for activation in the playoffs by other teams. As the top seed in the Eastern Conference, the Bucks could use his experience in the postseason, which is something that not many players on their roster have heading in to April.
The Bucks also added Nikola Mirotic at the deadline, joining Giannis Antetokounmpo and Brook Lopez as players that have a major role in the paint. Gasol is expected to be the backup center behind Lopez, who is averaging 28 minutes per game this season. The 38-year-old is a former two-time champion with the Los Angeles Lakers, but saw his role go down with the Spurs. He has averaged a career-low with 4.2 points and 4.7 rebounds in just 12.2 minutes per game. He is guaranteed $6.7 million of his $16 million salary for next season, while earning $16 million this season. In his 18-year NBA career, he has averaged 17.1 points and 9.2 rebounds, so if the Bucks can find a comfortable role for him in their rotation, this could end up being the dark horse move in their quest to the NBA Finals.
Bucks general manager Jon Horst said on Friday that the two sides had agreed on the deal, but was still moving forward on finalizing it. Bledsoe was on pace to become an unrestricted free agent this summer, but has already expressed his want to play the rest of the prime of his career in Milwaukee. The 29-year-old is averaging 15.9 points, 5.5 assists, and 4.7 rebounds per game, as he is looking to finish with a career-high 49 percent mark from the field for the season. He was acquired by the Bucks from the Phoenix Suns early in the 2017-2018 season, and has nine years of NBA experience with the Suns, Bucks, and Los Angeles Clippers.
Meanwhile, the Bucks also added to their size down low, not that they don't already have enough of that, agreeing to a deal with veteran Pau Gasol This comes after Gasol agreed to a buyout with the San Antonio Spurs, which was announced on Friday night. Players had to be waived by 11:59pm EST. in order to be available for activation in the playoffs by other teams. As the top seed in the Eastern Conference, the Bucks could use his experience in the postseason, which is something that not many players on their roster have heading in to April.
The Bucks also added Nikola Mirotic at the deadline, joining Giannis Antetokounmpo and Brook Lopez as players that have a major role in the paint. Gasol is expected to be the backup center behind Lopez, who is averaging 28 minutes per game this season. The 38-year-old is a former two-time champion with the Los Angeles Lakers, but saw his role go down with the Spurs. He has averaged a career-low with 4.2 points and 4.7 rebounds in just 12.2 minutes per game. He is guaranteed $6.7 million of his $16 million salary for next season, while earning $16 million this season. In his 18-year NBA career, he has averaged 17.1 points and 9.2 rebounds, so if the Bucks can find a comfortable role for him in their rotation, this could end up being the dark horse move in their quest to the NBA Finals.
