The Milwaukee Bucks have been, and will continue to be, one of the most talked about teams in the NBA this summer. This, of course, is because of the frequent trade rumors and proposals spun by the national media involving two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo. Despite these prevailing rumors, however, the Bucks are going about their offseason as if their nine-time All-Star will be back for the 2025-26 NBA season.
As has been the case for the past few seasons, Milwaukee will find itself hard-pressed to find quality players on the free agent market due to their immense salary cap. This year, at least, they will have a mid-level exception worth over $14 million that they can use, which is something that they have not had in recent years.
That being said, Bucks fans are not very happy about one certain player whose contract they few as a waste.
Milwaukee Bucks Fans Are Not Happy Pat Connaughton Will Pick Up His Player Option
Milwaukee Bucks, Pat Connaughton
Apr 13, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Pat Connaughton (24) puts up a shot against Detroit Pistons in the first half at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-Imagn Images
The main reason why Milwaukee is facing such difficulty with their salary cap is because they invested a great deal of money into keeping their core of players together that helped them win the 2021 NBA Finals. One of these players, Pat Connaughton, was previously given a three-year contract worth a little over $28 million. The final year of that deal was a player option, which he is expected to pick up for this upcoming season.
And fans are not thrilled:
F***ing waste of money and a roster spot I will never forgive Horst for giving him that player option https://t.co/73jO4SYHQG
— FreakTime 🦌⌚️ (@RunNDunkMan) June 8, 2025
Alright Pat just donate that $9.4 mil or somethin https://t.co/YJXxngV3rf
— kevin rollins jr (@bobbobby85164) June 7, 2025
9.4M of salary filler in dream trades that will solve the Bucks roster and open a new championship window around Giannis https://t.co/HLHtPD9jEu
— Joe (@JoeIsOnOne) June 8, 2025
9.4 million United States dollars for us to reminisce on 2021 and good vibes in the locker room pic.twitter.com/PXTAAuOe40 https://t.co/pBV69VVLTF
— DT (@DBucksFanT) June 7, 2025
Last season, Connaughton found himself at the end of the Bucks bench, appearing in just 41 games. He averaged 5.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.7 assists, but those numbers were boosted when, in the last game of the regular season, he went off for 43 points in his lone start of the year.
There is no reason to think that his playing time will increase in 2025-26, so the Bucks will be paying him well over $9 million to ride the bench for them again.
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