NBA Free Agency 2018: One signing every team should make

Milwaukee Bucks — Ed Davis

As the Bucks look to take a step next year with Giannis Antetokounmpo, they should be prioritizing functional players who help them and fit what new Mike Budenholzer likes. Finding a big who can make them less reliant on Tyler Zeller should be near the top of that list with Ed Davis checking off a number of boxes.

For starters, Davis is a versatile player — he could play the five in small ball lineups next to Giannis or play the 4 more in more traditional lineups where John Henson or Thon Maker are playing center. In either spot, he’ll be strong rebounder — last season, he posted the best rebounding percentage of his career, per Basketball-Reference — and a good pick and roll partner for Giannis and Eric Bledsoe because he’s a high-level screener. He’s not stretchy and a totally modern big, but he checks about every box the Bucks should want in a third big. And as interesting as Maker was in the playoffs, it’s hard to know if he can do that in the regular season for 82 games.

It might be tricky getting Davis, but he also might be worth their entire mid-level exception considering they have bodies at most every other position. It’s worth noting, too, that Jabari Parker’s free agency, and where he ends up and, if that’s Milwaukee, at what price, will impact any decision the Bucks make as they get closer to the luxury tax line.