Milwaukee Bucks guard AJ Green has agreed to a four-year, $45 million extension, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Thursday.
Green signed with the Bucks in 2022 after going undrafted out of Northern Iowa. He averaged 7.4 points in 73 appearances, mostly off the bench, last season.
He was previously set to play the 2025-26 season on an expiring contract worth $2.3 million, per Spotrac.
After making just seven starts last season, Green could be on track to get a more regular spot in the rotation during his fourth NBA campaign after shooting 42.7 percent from deep last season.
That rate ranked Green behind only Zach LaVine and Kevin Durant as the best accuracy among players attempting at least five three-pointers per game, per NBA stats.
The Bucks will be challenged to carefully manage their salary cap over the next few seasons after taking on $22.5 million annually in dead money in order to waive Damian Lillard.
At an average annual value of around $11.25 million, Green’s contract could take up under seven percent of the projected $166 million salary cap in 2026-27.
Secured a future starter at a relatively affordable cap hit could help the Bucks navigate the next few seasons, during which Giannis Antetokounmpo’s contract status could impact the franchise’s willingness to remain a luxury tax team.
The 2026-27 season marks the final guaranteed year that the Bucks currently have with Antetokounmpo under contract. The superstar currently holds a player option for 2027-28.
Antetokounmpo’s $58.5 million hit is projected to take up just over 35 percent of the 2026-27 cap, per Spotrac.
The Bucks also have Myles Turner, Kyle Kuzma, Bobby Portis and Ryan Rollins signed through next season, per Spotrac.
Regardless of what happens with team members holding player options for 2026-27, a list that includes Kevin Porter Jr., Gary Trent Jr., Taurean Prince, Gary Harris and Jericho Sims, that puts the Bucks on track to continue paying repeater tax rates.
If Antetokounmpo seeks a new team before the end of his contract, however, the Bucks could potentially look to get below the tax line for the first time in the second apron era. ESPN’s Shams Charania reported earlier this month that the team’s ability to contend this fall “will determine whether Antetokounmpo becomes a viable trade target in-season.”
For now, the Bucks will hope to see Green continue to show off his long-range scoring abilities when the regular season tips off next Wednesday against the visiting Washington Wizards.
