The Milwaukee Bucks are working to build a team that will remain extremely competitive when it comes to postseason play. The team recently traded away shooting guard J.J. Redick to the Los Angeles Clippers and are on the hunt to replace him with someone of quality. Kyle Korver has been targeted by multiple teams in free agency and the Bucks are trying to become the front runner for him.
The Bucks have offered Korver a very large three-year, $20 million contract according to ESPN's Marc Stein. The Brooklyn Nets originally claimed to have Korver "in the bag" but then pulled themselves out of contention. The issue became how much they thought Korver was worth. The Nets could only offer him a three-year deal worth $10 million and the Bucks beat them out.
At 32, Korver has established himself as one of the most consistent 3-point shooters in the league. He and Stephen Curry are the only players to shoot at least 41 percent from beyond the 3-point line in each of the last four seasons. Korver's skill set is very limitied, but the production from beyond the arc makes him very appealing. The Bucks are aiming to replace Redick's 3-point production with something of equal value and Korver is their best option.
Due to Korver's lacking talent in other areas, it is likely that $20 million is the best offer he will receiver from any other team. His age does not dictate too many other multi-year deals so this could be his last chance. Last season with the Atlanta Hawks, Korver averaged 10.9 points per game while shooting 45.7 percent from the 3-point range. That kind of season is good enough for a nice pay raise, but a one-dimensional player earning almost $7 million of the next three seasons does not really fit.
Deron Williams will not be happy that Brooklyn is out of the running for Korver. The point guard recently tweeted a picture of Korver in a Nets jersey saying it was a "perfect match." Now the Nets are out of the race altogether.
The Bucks have also been linked to having interest in J.R. Smith. The contract offered to Korver could dictate whether Smith ends up in Milwaukee or not. The San Antonio Spurs are reportedly also a team showing interest in Korver's shooting skills. The Bucks are likely the only team willing to give him that big of a contract.
