Before the 2019-20 season was suspended due to COVID-19, the Milwaukee Bucks had the best record in the NBA and Giannis Antetokounmpo was the front-runner to win the MVP Award again.
Antetokounmpo was averaging 29.6 points, 13.7 rebounds, and 5.8 assists for the Bucks before the season was put to a halt. He was eager to lead Milwaukee to the Finals after coming up short in the 2019 Eastern Conference Finals against Kawhi Leonard and the Toronto Raptors.
The Bucks lost four straight games after taking a 2-0 series lead on the Raptors. Milwaukee supporters are hoping the team will at least get the opportunity to redeem themselves from the 2019 playoffs and win the 2020 championship.
However, as each day passes, it feels like the season is going to get canceled altogether.
With that said, Bucks general manager Jon Horst will have an opportunity to improve his roster during the 2020 free agency period. His first order of business will be to offer and sign Giannis to the supermax extension. If Antetokounmpo doesn’t sign the extension, he can become an unrestricted free agent in the offseason of 2021.
That's a scenario Bucks fans are hoping doesn't come to fruition, as rumors about Giannis leaving for Miami or Los Angeles will only heat up if he declines the supermax offer from the Bucks.
Let's say for this piece Giannis signs the extension, though, and stays in Milwaukee long-term. The Bucks should then turn their attention to re-signing the best shooter on the team, who just so happens to be one of the top shooters of all-time.
Kyle Korver signed a one-year deal with the Bucks last summer in free agency. He shot 41.5 percent from beyond the arc in the 50 games he played this season. The sharpshooter dealt with a back injury that sidelined him for quite a few games, but when he played, Korver made the Bucks' offense so much more fluid.
Because Antetokounmpo commands double and triple teams when he puts his head down and drives to the basket, the more shooters the Bucks can surround him with, the better. Opposing teams will NEVER leave Korver open from 3. As a result, Giannis tends to drive to the basket on Korver's side of the floor since he’ll have an easier path getting to the rim.
Guards are usually draped all over Korver, giving Giannis more room to get to the lane. Milwaukee would be wise to lock up Korver as soon as free agency begins. Plenty of contenders will be contacting the veteran sniper since his shooting skills are needed by pretty much every team in the NBA.
Korver averaged 6.7 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.2 assists for the Bucks this season. Along with shooting 41.5 percent from deep, the 39-year-old also shot 42.9 percent overall and 82.4 percent from the free-throw line.
Giannis and Korver have developed a strong relationship. The former MVP often works with Korver after practices on his shooting form. If the Bucks star ever develops a consistent outside game, it will spell trouble for the rest of the league, and Korver may be the reason behind it.
Kyle is a career 42.9 percent shooter from the 3-point line, so Antetokounmpo is getting shooting tips from the right teammate.
All the players who are entering the 2020 free-agent pool are talented but there aren't too many guys that fit what the Bucks need moving forward. Milwaukee would LOVE to have a reliable third option on offense behind Giannis and Khris Middleton, respectively. However, there aren't any stars becoming free agents this offseason other than Anthony Davis and he's going to re-sign with the Los Angeles Lakers.
With that being said, it makes all the sense in the world for the Bucks to bring Korver back and use their money on role players with specific skill sets.
