After adding Myles Turner, the Milwaukee Bucks are still looking to add another veteran center.
According to Andscape’s Marc Spears, the Bucks and two more teams have expressed interest in Boston Celtics unrestricted free agent center Al Horford as his expected move to the Golden State Warriors stalled.
“Golden State, obviously, expected him to sign last week. He didn’t,” Spears said on ESPN’s “NBA Today” on July 14. “Lakers, Milwaukee, and Atlanta, I believe, are also interested in a nearly 40-year-old guy who also has retirement on the table.
“He’s still considering retiring; he’s not in any hurry. He’s got a sixth kid coming on the way, he lives in Atlanta and Boston in the offseason. But I’m hearing that whether it’s Golden State and to a lesser extent the Lakers, being away from the family that far isn’t going to be in that decision.”
Getty Al Horford of the Boston Celtics dunks the ball against the Milwaukee Bucks.
Horford, who earned $9.5 million last season, will be a valuable addition to any of the four teams pursuing him. But if he chooses the Bucks, he will back up Turner and give the Bucks one of the most fearsome frontcourts in the league, along with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis.
Horford averaged 9.0 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists while making nearly two 3-pointers per game on 36.3% shooting from beyond the arc last season.
Bucks Add Cole Anthony
The Bucks have finally found their point guard after waiving and stretching Damian Lillard‘s remaining $113 million under his contract to make way for the signing of Turner.
Cole Anthony, 25, plans to sign with the Bucks after he clears waivers following his buyout with the Memphis Grizzlies, ESPN’s senior NBA insider Shams Charania reported on July 12.
Anthony, the 15th overall pick in 2020, will sign a one-year deal with the Bucks, Charania added.
The 6-foot-2 guard will join Ryan Rollins as the only point guards on the Bucks roster and is the favorite to win the starting job.
Anthony averaged 12.5 points, 4.3 assists and 3.8 rebounds in his first five seasons in the NBA, all in Orlando.
The Magic traded Anthony to the Grizzlies along with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, four unprotected first-round picks and one first-round pick swap for Desmond Bane, the 30th overall pick in 2020.
Charania added Anthony ranked in the top five in total points and assists off the bench the past three seasons, citing ESPN Research.
Bradley Beal Unlikely To Go to Milwaukee
According to The Athletic, the Bucks are likely out in the Bradley Beal sweepstakes as the Los Angeles Clippers, “are likely the leaders to sign” Beal if he secures a contract buyout with the Phoenix Suns.
The Clippers can offer Beal, a three-time All-Star, up to $5.3 million in salary for the 2025-26 season. Additionally, the Clippers have an opening in their starting unit after trading Norman Powell to the Miami Heat in a three-team deal that brought back forward John Collins.
The Bucks couldn’t compete with the Clippers’ expected offer for Beal aside from their opening in their backcourt in the wake of waiving Lillard and stretching his salary.
The Athletic added that Beal has also considered the Bucks, Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, citing league sources.
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