The Milwaukee Bucks once again enter the summer earlier than they'd like following a first-round playoff upset loss to the Indiana Pacers . Last year the Bucks swung big by trading Jrue Holiday, their 2029 first-round pick, 2028 and 2030 first-round pick swap rights to Portland (and Grayson Allen to Phoenix) for Damian Lillard. That means the Trail Blazers will have the right to switch first-round pick position with the Bucks if it results in a higher selection.
With such a dearth of draft capital, general manager Jon Horst swung big on his two picks in the NBA draft in teenagers AJ Johnson and Tyler Smith , and the team said they intend to sign and roster the rookies. Including them, let's take a look at who is under contract, who is a free agent and their financial flexibility.
Should the Bucks sign Johnson and Smith, the ability of the team to drastically change the roster is further hampered by lack of roster spots, as well as by the collective bargaining agreement.
Bucks salary cap space
-
Players likely under contract for 2024-25: 12 ( The Bucks have said they plan to sign and roster their two draft picks )
-
Salary committed (including player incentives): $187 million ( Projected, as the first-round pick at No. 23 can earn around $3 million, but a second-round pick contract can be negotiated.)
-
Projected salary cap space: None.
-
Projected luxury tax space: None.
-
Projected luxury tax "first apron" space: None.
-
Projected luxury tax " second apron " space: None ( accounts for not-likely to be earned player incentives and any draft pick salaries )
-
Projected open roster spots: Three
Need to know: The Bucks must have a minimum of 14 guaranteed contracts on the roster so, if they sign their draft picks as stated, they must sign at least two more players. They can begin the season with an open 15th spot to maintain flexibility for trades or an in-season signing. By agreeing to sign their draft picks, along with a few free agents, they will easily move over the second apron.
The second apron and penalties were instituted in the latest collective bargaining agreement, and they simultaneously allow teams to exceed the salary cap and the luxury tax to retain their own players, but also penalize teams for being high spenders with roster building restrictions. The aprons are calculated with an accounting formula , and the thresholds rise accordingly with the salary cap.
Bucks player contracts
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Signed through the 2027-28 season, which includes a player option, Antetokounmpo will make $48.8 million.
Age at start of season:29
Need to know:Antetokounmpo declined his 2025-26 player option and signed a three-year extension for $175.9 million at the start of last season. Was the first player in NBA history to average at least 30 points per game while shooting 60% from the field.
Thanasis Antetokounmpo
Antetokounmpo will be an unrestricted free agent.
Age at start of season:32
Need to know:Antetokounmpo had previously signed multi-year deals with the Bucks before returning on a one-year contract last year. Played in 34 regular-season games, his fewest since 2019-20.
Malik Beasley
Beasley will be an unrestricted free agent.
Age at start of season:27
Need to know:Started a career-high 77 games and shot a career-best 41.3% from behind the three-point line. Made the second-most three-pointers in a single season in Bucks history (224) and participated in the three-point contest at all-star weekend. Was moved to a reserve role at the end of the regular season and for the playoffs. Played on four teams in the last three seasons.
MarJon Beauchamp
Beauchamp's team option was exercised and he will make $2.7 million next season. The team has until Oct. 31 to pick up his $4.8 million option for 2025-26.
Age at start of season:23
Need to know:Played in 48 games and shot 40% from behind the three-point line, but saw action in just 20 of the Bucks' final 49 contests due to injury or coach's decision.
Pat Beverley
Beverley will be an unrestricted free agent.
Age at start of season:36
Need to know:Acquired at the trade deadline from Philadelphia for Cameron Payne and a second-round draft pick, Beverley shot 36.1% from behind the three-point line in 26 games for the Bucks – his best since 2020-21. Finished the year as a starter. Played on six teams in the last four seasons.
Despite suffering a wrist injury near the end of the season, Beverley said in Indianapolis he is healthy and wants to play up to five more seasons.
Pat Connaughton
Connaughton will make $9.4 million next season and has a player option of the same amount for 2025-26.
Age at start of season:31
Need to know:Improved slightly in his three-point shooting at 34.5% while playing the second-most games of his career (76) but in the fewest minutes per game (22.1) since 2019-20. Doc Rivers used him in more of a playmaking role in the second half of the season.
Jae Crowder
Crowder will be an unrestricted free agent.
Age at start of season:34
Need to know:Started 25 games and played in 50 after missing 31 following adductor surgery. Shot 34.9% from behind the three-point line.
Danilo Gallinari
Gallinari will be an unrestricted free agent.
Age at start of season:36
Need to know:Acquired during the all-star break as a free agent, the forward appeared in 17 games with the Bucks and shot 17.6% from behind the three-point line and 37.8% overall.
AJ Green
Signed through 2025-26, Green will make $2.1 million next season, though it is not a guaranteed contract. The team must decide by July 8 to fully guarantee his salary.
Age at start of season:25
Need to know:Played a career-high 56 games and shot 40.8% from behind the three-point line. Averaged nearly 15 minutes per game under Doc Rivers before a left ankle sprain ended his season early.
Andre Jackson Jr.
Signed through 2026-27, Jackson will make $1.9 million next season, but will not be fully guaranteed until Jan. 10, 2025.
Age at start of season:22
Need to know:Appeared in 57 games as a rookie, and shot 37% from behind the three-point line. His playing time was sporadic under coaches Adrian Griffin and Rivers, but showed flashes of potential as a defender.
AJ Johnson
General manager Jon Horst said the intention is to sign and roster Johnson. Rookies can sign four-year deals, and first-rounders will get the first two guaranteed. Their contract slots are tied to the salary cap, so the No. 23 pick will earn $6.1 million over the next two seasons and can sign for up to $14.8 million over the next four.
Age at start of the season:19
Need to know:Has been a pro for a year, playing one season in Australia's National Basketball League.
Damian Lillard
Signed through 2026-27, which includes a player option, Lillard will make $48.8 million next season.
Age at start of season:34
Need to know:An all-star in his first season with the Bucks, Lillard took home the all-star game MVP and three-point shooting contest title. He played in 73 games, his most since 2018-19. He shot 35.4% from behind the three-point line, his lowest percentage in a full season since 2014-15. He averaged 24.3 points and 7.0 assists per game, his lowest totals in a full season since 2018-19.
Chris Livingston
Signed through 2026-27, which includes a team option. Livingston will make $1.9 million in guaranteed salary next season.
Age at start of season:20
Need to know:Appeared in just 21 games and 90 minutes for the Bucks in a developmental year.
Brook Lopez
Lopez is entering the final year of his contract, which will pay him $23 million.
Age at start of season:36
Need to know:Lopez played in 79 games, his most since 2018-19. He shot 48.5% from the field overall, his lowest in a full season since 2019-20. He made 36.6% of his three-pointers. He averaged 2.4 blocks per game.
Khris Middleton
Signed through 2025-26, which includes a player option, Middleton will make a base salary of $31 million next year. He can make $3 million more in incentives.
Age at start of season:33
Need to know:Injuries limited him to 55 games, and he shot 38.1% from behind the three-point line in averaging 15.1 points, 5.3 assists and 4.7 rebounds per game. When he was cleared to play 30 minutes per game, he shot 50.3% overall and 39.3% from behind the three-point line in averaging 16.4 points and 5.9 assists.
Bobby Portis
Signed through the 2025-26 season, which includes a player option, Portis will make $12.6 million next year. He has a 15% trade kicker.
Age at start of season:29
Need to know:Played in all 82 games for the first time in his career and shot 50.8% from the field and 40.7% from behind the three-point line – his best marks since the 2020-21 championship season. Averaged 15.5 points and 8.3 rebound after Rivers took over as head coach.
Tyler Smith
Assistant general manager Milt Newton said the intention is to sign and roster the second-round pick. Under the new CBA, teams can now sign second-rounders for up to four years. There is no set slot, however. For example, Chris Livingston earned the most guaranteed money ever as the last pick in the 2023 draft and made as much as Andre Jackson Jr., who was picked 22 spots earlier.
Age on opening day:19
Need to know:Has a nice outside touch but Newton said Smith could put on some weight. Projects as a traditional floor-spacing power forward on offense but has the athleticism to guard on the perimeter while a 7-1 wingspan offers rim protecting potential.
More: The Milwaukee Bucks season has ended early again; tell us how you're feeling about it
More: That was it? A Bucks season that started with promise and high expectations ends early again
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: After NBA draft, what to know about Bucks players' contracts, salary cap
