Bucks Bet Big: AJ Green Gets 4-Year $45M

Merlin sees Milwaukee locked in AJ Green with a four-year, $45 million extension, per Shams Charania. The undrafted guard from Northern Iowa averaged 7.4 points in 73 games last season, shot a startling 42.7% from deep, and could move from bench spark to regular rotation. The deal is affordable (about $11.25M AAV) and gives the Bucks a cheap, floor-spacing piece as they juggle dead money from the Damian Lillard buyout. Merlin senses this is a low-risk, high-upside play: Green’s range fills a clear need, but roster and cap pressures — with Giannis’ contract situation and commitments to Turner, Kuzma and Portis — mean Milwaukee must balance short-term contention and long-term flexibility. If Green sustains his shooting, he forces matchup problems and could quietly become a starter; if not, the contract is manageable.