After a subdued start to free agency with minimal activity from most teams, the Bucks have kicked off their moves in the 2024 NBA offseason by securing free agent guard Delon Wright, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Let’s address something crucial right from the start. If Woj’s reported salary for Delon Wright is accurate, it carries significant implications because it exceeds the minimum contract, likely indicating he’s signed using the taxpayer mid level exception. As a nine-year veteran, Wright’s minimum salary would be $3 million. If he had one more year of experience, he would be eligible for $3.3 million. It’s possible Wojnarowski might be off by a year in his reporting. Using the taxpayer mid level exception hard-caps a team at the second apron above the luxury tax, as discussed previously, where I also mentioned Wright as a potential minimum salary candidate given his buyout last season.
Now turning to the player himself, Delon Wright concluded last season with Miami, the final year of a two-year contract he signed with Washington before the 2022–23 season. He posted averages of 4.5 points, 2.5 assists, and 1.1 steals per game with shooting splits of .394/.368/.822 across both teams. Drafted in 2015, Wright, now 32, will be joining his ninth NBA team. Standing at 6’5”, he possesses ideal size for a ball handler and has primarily served as a backup point guard, even starting in that role for Detroit for a significant portion of the 2020–21 season. However, with his height and consistent shooting throughout his career, he has often functioned as a versatile combo guard. Wright has also earned a reputation as a solid defender in the backcourt over the years, making him a discussed candidate for Milwaukee’s roster for several seasons.
From a roster perspective, this move likely signals a potential departure for Patrick Beverley from the Bucks. Beverley might not be inclined to accept a reduced role after serving as the team’s de facto backup point guard following his trade from Philadelphia for Cameron Payne. Nevertheless, it’s worth noting that Beverley, known as a combo guard throughout his career, adapted well into the starting lineup alongside Damian Lillard during the postseason. Thus, it’s possible he could embrace sharing on-ball responsibilities with Wright and playing off-ball alongside Lillard.
We’ll continue to monitor developments regarding Wright’s contract details. Currently, it appears probable that he might be signing for the veteran minimum, which would not impact Milwaukee’s taxpayer midlevel exception (TPMLE). However, if they are indeed utilizing the TPMLE, it could introduce additional complexities, though we’ll refrain from delving into that unless necessary. For now, welcome to Milwaukee, Delon!
Wright’s salary will be slightly above $3 million, but because it’s a minimum contract, it will count only $2.1 million against the Bucks’ salary cap and toward the second apron. Importantly, this signing won’t necessitate the use of the taxpayer mid-level exception (TPMLE), meaning the Bucks won’t need to make any additional moves to accommodate Wright. Teams above the second apron can utilize the minimum salary exception for signings, which avoids triggering a hard cap set at $189.5 million, unlike the TPMLE.
