Mar 20, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard AJ Green (20) looks to pass against the Los Angeles Lakers during the second half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Hui-Imagn Images
The Milwaukee Bucks have solidified themselves as an aging team with a lack of younger talent ready to help the 2021 NBA Championship core make another run at the Larry O’Brien. Shooting guard AJ Green is one of the few young players that has shown great promise for the Bucks. The question is, should Green be given an extension ahead of his 2026 free agency?
Milwaukee Bucks guard AJ Green (20) shoots during the fourth quarter
Jan 8, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard AJ Green (20) shoots during the fourth quarter against the San Antonio Spurs at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
The Milwaukee Bucks Are Devoid of Young Talent
Only Giannis Antetokounmpo, Brook Lopez, Bobby Portis, and Pat Connaughton remain from the 2021 championship squad. Connaughton (player option) is almost certainly departing in the offseason, and both Lopez (free agent) and Portis (player option) are question marks at this point as well. In fact, if media speculation about an Antetokounmpo trade is true, the entire Finals team could be gone by the start of next season.
Milwaukee Bucks Houston Rockets
Apr 29, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) during game five of the first round for the 2024 NBA Playoffs against the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
The effort to find younger talent led to the Khris Middleton-Kyle Kuzma swap in February, which unfortunately turned out to be a disaster in terms of Kuzma’s playoff performance. Regardless, Milwaukee is on the hunt for some younger talent this offseason.
At 25 years old, AJ Green represents the only Bucks players aged 25 or below that averaged over 20 minutes per game last season. After averaging 11 minutes per game in 2023-24, he over doubled his playing time to 22.7 minutes per contest. He averaged 7.4 points per game on 42.7% from three-point land.
Green’s strongest attribute is his shooting, but he has also shown great improvement off the dribble and also as a defender. In the playoffs, head coach Doc Rivers gave him Tyrese Haliburton duty, which Green fared fairly well at.
AJ Green, Milwaukee Bucks
Feb 10, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard AJ Green (20) drives for the basket against Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski (2) in the third quarter at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
There will be a lot of backcourt minutes available next season as a result of the Damian Lillard injury. Additionally, Milwaukee has several other players at Green’s position that are free agents, including the veteran wing Taurean Prince, sharpshooter Gary Trent Jr., and fellow-25-year-old Kevin Porter Jr. Green will almost certainly have more opportunity to play and potentially even start.
Will AJ Green Receive an Extension?
Green is an ascending player, one trusted by the coaching staff to increase his minutes from 22.7 to 27 per game in the postseason. In the series against Indiana, he was one of the few Bucks players with a positive net rating. Bucks GM Jon Horst could be keen on ensuring Green will stick around for a few more years rather than letting him play out the last year of his deal in 2025-26.
New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) controls the ball against Milwaukee Bucks guard AJ Green (20)
Jan 12, 2025; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) controls the ball against Milwaukee Bucks guard AJ Green (20) during the fourth quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Originally an undrafted player, Green is making $.23 million this year. An extension could see him earn significantly more. As one of the league’s better snipers that has an ascending all-around game, Green has the ceiling of a high-level role player and could command upwards of $12 million APY in a multi-year extension.
While the top end of Milwaukee’s roster are all playing on extensions, Green could definitely be given a new deal given his youth and potential to be a key role player for a team trying to make one more push back to the NBA mountaintop.
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