The Milwaukee Bucks had an eventful offseason, largely because of the stunning release of all-star point guard Damian Lillard that led to the surprising signing of free-agent center Myles Turner.
Free agents like Kevin Porter Jr., Gary Trent Jr., Jericho Sims and Taurean Prince were re-signed.
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But another core member of the team did not have his long-term future settled, as guard AJ Green became extension eligible over the summer but has opened the season without a new deal.
There is no deadline to get that extension done until the start of free agency in the summer of 2026, but it is an unresolved piece of business for a 26-year-old player in search of his first long-term, high-dollar NBA contract.
“That is all – with who I am with my faith and perspective – that’s gonna happen,” Green said with a smile after Bucks practice on Sept. 30. “It’s gonna happen exactly how it should. If I worry about it, what’s that gonna do for me? I’m not in control of it. I can only do what I can now. So, I just gotta trust that whatever is gonna happen is gonna happen regardless. It’s out of my hands.”
Bucks general manager Jon Horst said he contacted Green’s agent Matt Bollero, a former Bucks front office executive, on the first day negotiations could open. Horst added on Sept. 29 that those conversations have been ongoing.
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“We’d love to have AJ with us for a long time,” Horst said. “We’re able to work on that, and we are working on that.”
For Green, that is enough to keep his mind settled.
More: How the Bucks’ AJ Green comes off the bench ready to shoot
“That’s why you have an agent, right?” the shooting guard said. “My job is just to control everything I can right there on the court, in the gym – be a great teammate and work hard, go about the same stuff that I’ve tried to be about in my time here and trust that my agent, I love that dude, is going to take care of whatever needs to be taken care of. That’s what I hired him to do. And I trust him and the front office and Jon to come to a good place, Lord willing.
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“My job is just to take care of everything on the court. That’s kind of my focus.”
As training camp begins, though, each day brings him closer to the end of his current contract. Originally an undrafted free agent out of Northern Iowa in 2022, Green began his career in Milwaukee on a two-way deal before signing a 3-year, $6.3 million deal in 2023.
“I mean, that’s what faith is right?” Green said with a smile. “Trust that God is in control and that He’s going to take care of it. It’s already planned out. Faith is active. You gotta have faith and believe it. It is easy for things to come in and invade your mind and think ‘oh, I gotta do this’ or worry about this. But again, I think if I just do everything I can then I can leave it up; if I give it all I got, that’s all I can really do.”
Milwaukee Bucks’ AJ Green (20) attempts a three-point shot as Toronto Raptors guard Davion Mitchell (45) defends during the first half of their game Tuesday, November 12, 2024 at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Bucks’ AJ Green spoke on starting camp without a contract extension