The Bucks are exercising their third-year option on Thon Maker for 2018/19 in advance of today’s deadline, but will turn down their fourth-year option on Rashad Vaughn, reports Matt Velazquez of The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Twitter link).
[RELATED: Decisions On 2018/19 Rookie Scale Team Options]
The decision on Maker was an easy one for the Bucks, who used the 10th overall pick in the 2016 draft to nab the 7’1″ center. Maker, whose 2018/19 option will count against the cap for about $2.8MM, played a modest role for Milwaukee in his rookie season, but showed flashes of potential and is already playing more significant minutes this year, having started all six games at center for the club.
Vaughn, meanwhile, was one of several players I identified during the preseason as being at risk of having their rookie scale options declined. Although the value of Vaughn’s 2018/19 option is fairly modest, at $2.9MM, the 21-year-old guard has failed to have a real on-court impact through 114 games in Milwaukee.
Vaughn will become an unrestricted free agent in 2018, and while the Bucks will be eligible to re-sign him, they won’t be able to offer him more than what his option would have been worth.
Bad move by Milwaukee. Vaughn has shown that he can be a backup SG everytime he plays. It doesn’t make sense for a 40 year old Terry and DeAndre Liggins to be playing more than him.
Milwaukee already has Middleton, Snell, Brown and even Brogdon who can play SG. I don’t think losing Vaughn is going to be missed much.
Youngest player in his draft class,he has been a part of 114 games and he’s still only 21. I think it’s way to early to give up on Vaughn. Hes improved his shot and he’s slowly learning how to play the game at the NBA level. I hope we re-sign him at the end of the year, maybe something more long term and team friendly. I’d hate to see him walk