The Milwaukee Bucks remain one of the Eastern Conference’s elite teams heading into next season, but there are still certainly some holes on their talented roster. Even though they were one of the higher-volume three-point shooting teams in the NBA, the Bucks are still on the search for extra shooters and are reportedly interested in one of the biggest names still left on the free-agent market.
According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, the Bucks are interested in J.R. Smith and met with the guard to discuss a potential contract on Thursday. Smith was waived by the Cleveland Cavaliers earlier this week.
JR Smith will have a free-agent meeting with the Bucks today in Milwaukee, league sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium. Bucks are searching for a wing shooter and both sides will have opportunity to sit down.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 18, 2019
Milwaukee is still expected to be one of the better shooting teams next season, but adding someone who can score from the perimeter such as J.R. Smith will give their bench a much-needed element. The Bucks did lose Malcolm Brogdon in free agency this offseason and while they have enough firepower to compensate, it makes sense for them to be after another bench scorer.
The Bucks were able to retain two of their premier shooters in Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez while also signing free agent Wesley Matthews. Last year, we saw the Bucks surround MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo with a myriad of shooters and it worked like a charm, as the team won 60 games and secured the top seed in the East.
Now entering his 16th professional season, Smith has certainly lost a step but that doesn’t mean he can’t contribute. Smith should still be able to stretch a defense and be effective from the perimeter, so it wouldn’t be shocking if a contending team such as Milwaukee took a flyer on the veteran wing.
