Bucks are maximizing their talent on minimum contracts

Milwaukee didn't have much to work with this summer. Yet it managed to land three rotation players on minimum deals.

Gary Trent Jr. is the latest reinforcement for the Bucks. Coming off a disappointing postseason where they lost in the first round without star Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Bucks managed to reload without retooling and beef up their depth around the Greek Freak and Damian Lillard.

Along with Trent, a career 38.6 percent three-point shooter, the Bucks added Delon Wright and Taurean Prince, all for the veteran minimum. All three are above-average three-point shooters and can defend, giving Bucks coach Doc Rivers reliable veteran players.

Milwaukee relied heavily on the three-point shot last season, taking and making the fifth-most triples in the NBA. Opposing teams have to double Antetokounmpo, leading to open three-point opportunities. But where Trent really helps is in the Bucks' anemic steal numbers, where they ranked 25th last year.

Trent has over 300 steals and over 550 threes in the past three seasons. His presence allows the team to use Wright as the backup ballhandler, and play a variety of lineups. If they need size, the Bucks can have Prince play small forward with Khris Middleton at shooting guard. But Rivers can also go small with any combination of Trent, Wright, and Pat Connaughton with Antetokounmpo at the five.

It's remarkable that all these players were available so cheap, considering that Trent made $18.6M last year, Wright got $8.1M and Prince got $4.5M. But it's a testament to the appeal of playing with Antetokounmpo and Lillard (Trent was Lillard's teammate in Portland) that these veterans chose to take the minimum in Milwaukee. It also says that these players still consider Milwaukee a title contender, even as its championship odds have dipped to 15-to-1.

Milwaukee's high payroll limited the team's options this summer, but it's hard to imagine a better haul on purely minimum contracts. The Bucks will still only go as far as their superstar duo will take them, but at least this team now has the depth to give them a fighting chance.