Official signing, goodbye to the Clippers! The Bucks welcome important reinforcements, Antetokounmpo and Harden are happy

Editor|Old Kankanqiu

NBA offseason has passed halfway, and the popularity of the free market has also begun to cool down. The Rockets are the most worthy of signing transactions this summer, the Rockets are the most well-deserved teams - signing important reinforcements such as Durant, Finney Smith, Capela, etc., and renewing Jabarry Smith Jr., and reducing the salary to re-sign key puzzles such as VanVleet and Adams. General Manager Stone is really a god in one battle; the Nuggets traded with 3D strong player Cameron Johnson, and then strengthened Bruce Brown, Hardaway Jr. and Valanciunas, instantly becoming the biggest favorite to compete for the championship; the Clippers are not inferior, and have signed powerful players such as Bill, Lopez, and Paul one after another. Although they are nicknamed the "League Senior Team", experience is also their greatest winning weapon.

But when it comes to the most eye-opening team this offseason, it is undoubtedly the Bucks. In the playoffs last season, Lillard, the team's main core, unexpectedly suffered a torn Achilles tendon and will directly miss the entire 2025-26 season after the operation, which completely disrupted the management's deployment. You should know that Antetokounmpo is at the peak of his career, but basketball is ultimately a team sport, and it is particularly concerned about whether the team can provide a lineup for championships. US media and league insiders often reveal Antetokounmpo's departure scandals, which indirectly put greater pressure on the Bucks management.

So, the Bucks management made a decision this summer to buy out the top star Lillard and use the extended terms to pay 112.6 million US dollars in installments to make room for the team. You should know that it is extremely rare to lay off super giants of Lillard's level today, not to mention the current league, even in NBA history. After all, the team not only has to bear huge salary pressure, but also has to face the embarrassment of losing a superstar in vain, which is really amazing.

But obviously, in order to leave Antetokounmpo, the Bucks management no longer cares about so much. After sacking Lillard, the team immediately used the freed salary space to sign Turner of the Pacers ($108.9 million for four years) and Cole Anthony of the Magic ($3.65 million for exceptions), and renewed the contract with Portis (44 million for three years), Kevin Porter Jr. (11 million for two years), Torrion Prince (7.1 million for two years), Gary Trent (7.5 million for two years), etc., to rebuild the championship lineup around Antetokounmpo.

And just today, the famous US media ESPN reporter Shams Charania broke the news again: the Bucks signed the former Clippers 28-year-old forward Amir Kofi with a one-year contract to continue to strengthen the thickness of the wing.

28-year-old Kofi participated in the draft in 2019 and signed a two-way contract with the Clippers. In 2022, he re-signed a three-year, $11 million contract with the Clippers. He has been playing for the Clippers for the first six years of his career. In his last season in Los Angeles, Coffey averaged 9.7 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game, shooting percentage of 47.1%, and shooting percentage of three-pointers reached an impressive 40.9%. Although completely abandoned by Tyron Lue in the playoffs (with zero playing time), he played 72 games throughout the regular season, including 13 starts. During Leonard's injury, he stood up many times and became the most reliable barrier to the Clippers' forward line.

It can be said that the Bucks sign this contract is by no means arbitrary. The team's outside defense has always existed. The arrival of Coffey can provide the Bucks with three key values:

Elite three-point shooting: 40.9% three-point shooting percentage is at the top of any team in the league. His unball running can open up space for Antetokounmpo's breakthrough;

Strong outside defense: 1.98 meters tall and agile horizontal movement can effectively limit opponents' forward stars (mainly defending Durant, Booker and other scorers in the regular season);

Super value and cost-effectiveness: a short one year short, and if you perform well, it can become a long-term puzzle.

"Coffey's performance on the defensive end is convincing and can limit top scorers like Irving to a certain extent!" Professional commentators once commented this when analyzing his performance. This trait is the weapon that the Bucks need most when facing Eastern Conference rivals such as the Knicks and the Cavaliers next season. The addition of cost-effective 3D players like Coffey may become a key variable on the Bucks' road to championship.

The Eastern Conference pattern next season is undergoing drastic changes. Many All-Star players suffered serious injuries and were reimbursed for the season, and the strength echelon was facing a reshuffle:

Celtics: Tatum's Achilles tendon ruptured, Porzingis Holiday was sent away, the lineup depth dropped sharply

76ers: Embiid's knee injury became normal, George's condition fluctuated after the operation, and Maxi was unable to support it alone

Therefore, in this context, it is not easy for the Bucks to make so many reinforcements, and Antetokounmpo should be happy.

And when news of Coffey signing the Bucks came out, the person who was most pleased was perhaps Harden. As the locker room big brother, Harden established a deep friendship with Coffey during the Clippers. After signing, he had privately expressed his congratulations to Coffey. Goodbye in the new season may have become an opponent.