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It's official, we have our first anger-inducing Milwaukee Bucks story of free agency. According to Adrian Wojnarowski, the Milwaukee Bucks are meeting with Derrick Rose today.
Free agent guard Derrick Rose is meeting with Milwaukee Bucks officials today, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 3, 2017
The obvious next question is: how is Milwaukee supposed to sign him if they’re already at the tax? Well, as is usually the case, Woj has an answer for that too.
Sources: Milwaukee's been trying to shed contracts to create space. Bucks need to make moves to get into position to sign significant FA's. https://t.co/rxRkk6v3DS
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 3, 2017
It’s no secret that Milwaukee’s wanted to shed some salary from its books, although I mostly assumed it was to avoid the luxury tax. Apparently, it’s to ensure they can keep their hands in the grimy cookie jar that is NBA free agency. Derrick Rose will probably command (or demand) at least some sort of significant salary, and on paper it makes little sense for Milwaukee to sign someone of his high-priced ilk who’s far beyond their prime. D-Rose can create off the dribble and pull up for his own shot, a skill lacking in both Delly and Brogdon, but he’s also a high usage player who can’t space the floor at all for Giannis and co.
Frankly, I don’t get the fit, and even on a high-priced one-year deal, I struggle to see where Rose in Milwaukee would make a lot of sense. The idea of them actually signing him still seems unlikely with their roster and salary cap essentially full, but if they’re in a meeting with him there’s at least some mutual interest. Whether Milwaukee can shed enough contracts to make it feasible is another question. For once, I think it may be preferable to simply hope John Henson can stay on the roster.