When Bucks general manager Jon Horst spoke to reporters after the selection of AJ Johnson on Wednesday night, he outlined four needs for the Bucks this offseason:
- Guard size
- Wing defense
- Shooting
- A change-of-pace big
In their first move in free agency, the Bucks found a way to help shore up that first need by signing Delon Wright to a one-year deal, a league source confirmed to The Athletic.
Wright, a 32-year-old 6-foot-5 guard with a 6-foot-7.5 wingspan, Wright has shown the ability to be a disruptive defender throughout his nine-year NBA career. While he has spent most of his career coming off the bench as a backup point guard, he has played some shooting guard as well, which may allow him to play next to Damian Lillard in some lineups.
Last season, Wright was a regular in the Washington Wizards rotation to start the season and then he suffered a left hamstring injury in mid-November that forced him to miss 20 straight games before he returned on Dec. 26. The Wizards attempted to move him at the trade deadline, but ultimately bought him out after they were unable to find a deal. Wright moved to Miami where he appeared in 14 regular season games for the Heat before playing 26 minutes per game in the Heat’s first-round series against the Celtics.
On the season, Wright averaged 4.5 points, 1.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.1 steals in 15.8 minutes per game. He will be helpful for a Bucks team that was desperate for more size and stronger defensive play in the backcourt, but it will be interesting to see where he ends up in Doc Rivers’ rotation next season after the Bucks fill up their roster. Wright has only made 35.4 percent of his 3-point attempts in his career.
If the Bucks officially sign both of their draft picks, as the front office said they would earlier this week, and come to terms with Wright, they will have only two roster spots remaining for next season.
