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The Bucks successfully picked up the bargain! Signing Cole Anthony, Antetokounmpo gets help again

7:29pm, 18 July 2025【Basketball】

On July 17, the Milwaukee Bucks officially announced that the team officially signed free agent defender Cole Anthony. The 25-year-old point guard was bought out by the Grizzlies not long ago and then joined the Bucks with a one-year, $3.65 million contract, making the team's 10th signing this summer.

Cole Anthony originally had a three-year, $39.1 million contract, which only expired in 2027, but in order to make room for salary, the Grizzlies chose to reach a buyout agreement with Jaren Jackson Jr. Anthony gave up part of his salary and eventually joined the Bucks with a basic salary. This operation made many fans say, "The Bucks have made a lot of money."

In his five seasons of playing for the Magic, Kerr Anthony played 320 games, averaging 12.5 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game, shooting percentage of 41.9%, and 34.5% of the three-point shooting percentage of 6. Although the data is not an explosive, his explosive scoring and organizational ability still make him a qualified rotation player.

The Bucks cut Damian Lillard this offseason, who may miss the entire 2025-26 season due to a torn Achilles tendon. In order to fill the gap in the backcourt, the Bucks signed Gary Harris and Kevin Porter Jr., and now Cole Anthony is added to ensure the depth of the backcourt.

Anthony's advantage lies in:

scoring ability: He scored 37 points in a single game and had the ability to attack independently.

Rebounding Smell: As a point guard of 1.88 meters, he averaged 4.3 rebounds per game in his career and was active in fighting.

Organizing ability: Average 5.7 assists per game in the peak season, and can share some ball-control tasks.

In the late stage of the Magic, Anthony's playing time was compressed, and he averaged only 9.4 points, 3 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game last season, and his data fell to a career low. But after joining the Bucks, he is expected to get more opportunities, especially as Antetokounmpo's substitute ball-holding point, providing fire support in the second team.

Bucks coach Doug Rivers is good at activating role players. If Anthony can improve efficiency, he may even compete for the starting position and form a backcourt rotation with Porter Jr. and Trent.

Signing Cole Anthony is just one of the steps for the Bucks this summer. Previously, they also signed Miles Turner for 107 million yuan in four years and renewed their contracts for key players such as Portis and Trent Jr. All operations point to one goal - to satisfy Antetokounmpo and ensure that he stays in the team for a long time.