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Pat Connaughton Exercises $9.4 Million Option as Bucks Stay Below Salary Apron

The move leaves Milwaukee under the salary apron, preserving their $14.1 million midlevel exception.

Apr 27, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Pat Connaughton (24) drives for the basket against Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) in the fourth quarter during game four of first round for the 2024 NBA Playoffs at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images/File Photo
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Mar 22, 2025; Sacramento, California, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Pat Connaughton (24) during the second quarter against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

Overview

  • Connaughton confirmed his $9.4 million player option by the June 17 deadline, locking in his contract for the 2025-26 season.
  • He averaged just 14.7 minutes across 41 games in 2024-25, marking his lowest per-game playing time since the 2016-17 season.
  • The 32-year-old originally joined Milwaukee as a free agent in 2018 and signed a three-year, $28 million extension in 2023.
  • Remaining below the first apron gives the Bucks the freedom to deploy their full $14.1 million midlevel exception this summer.
  • Connaughton is one of the few players left from Milwaukee’s 2021 championship roster and has spent seven seasons with the franchise.