If Lopez is re-signed, Milwaukee doesn’t have many sensible choices to get underneath the tax. If he enters free company, the Bucks can simply keep away from it. Sources said the franchise is prepared to once again enter the tax after spending more than $200 million in luxury tax alone over the past few seasons — more than every team but the Golden State Warriors, LA Clippers, Brooklyn Nets, Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns since 2012, per Spotrac. Rival groups suspect the Bucks to finish up within the tax however maintain their payroll beneath the $196 million first apron, which might open their capacity to entry extra of the $14 million midlevel exception. They could want a big chunk of it for a place to begin guard rather than Lillard, with the candidates together with free brokers corresponding to Dennis Schroder, Tyus Jones and Malcolm Brogdon. -via ESPN / June 13, 2025
