The Bucks may have spent the offseason making a mix of sharp moves and shaky ones, but their Caris LeVert deal stands out as a clear win. Milwaukee used its cap space to absorb LeVert’s contract and, in the process, picked up two second-round draft picks.
That’s the kind of maneuver rebuilding teams are supposed to make when they have flexibility. The Bulls, by contrast, missed their chance to do the same.
Chicago had its own opportunity to weaponize cap room, but instead it took on a contract the other team no longer wanted: center Nicolas Claxton on a 4-year/$97 million deal. In today’s CBA landscape, where value on cheaper contracts matters more than ever, that kind of money can turn a player into a negative asset fast. Claxton’s recent production made the contract even harder to justify.
Last season, Claxton averaged 12 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists with one block per game for a tanking Nets team. Those are useful numbers, but they do not scream “big-money deal.”
If the Bulls believe he can make a major jump in a new setting, that’s one thing. But there was no clear reason to absorb the contract without getting extra draft compensation attached.
Milwaukee’s return for LeVert only sharpens the contrast. LeVert has just one season left on his deal at $14.8 million, yet the Pistons still sent over two future picks to get him off their books. The Bucks basically turned cap room into draft capital while only sending out Gary Harris and Taurean Prince, two veterans who were never part of their long-term picture anyway.
There is one wrinkle here: Claxton and LeVert are not interchangeable. LeVert is five years older and just finished what was arguably the worst season of his career.
Claxton, at 26, should still be approaching his prime, and he fills a Bulls need with his rim protection and defensive presence. That part matters.
But both players come with warning signs. Claxton’s best season is already three years behind him.
In 2023, he finished ninth in Defensive Player of the Year voting and shot 70% from the field. Since then, his impact has slipped, and Chicago is betting that a more competitive environment can get him back on track.
LeVert’s numbers have also trended downward. Last season he averaged 7 points, 2 rebounds and 3 assists per game while shooting a career-low 42% from the field and 33% from three. Still, Milwaukee already came out ahead simply by getting the extra picks, which means the Bucks can live with whatever comes next.
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