Bucks sign John Henson to reported 4-year, $44-million extension
The Milwaukee Bucks have signed center John Henson to a contract extension, the team announced Friday.
Terms of his deal weren't disclosed, but Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports reports that Henson's contract is worth $44 million, with additional incentive clauses that could push the deal to $48 million.
"We're excited for John and for our organization as we continue to build a consistent winner," Bucks head coach Jason Kidd said. "John is a great teammate, plays unselfishly and has worked very hard to develop into a top-tier defender. We look forward to many great years together with him."
The 24-year-old Henson put up strong numbers in a limited role with the Bucks last season. The wiry 6-foot-11 center only played 18.3 minutes per game in 2014-15, but Henson led the league in block percentage at 9.3 - a rate nearly double that of DeAndre Jordan (5.4 percent) and Roy Hibbert (5.1).
Moreover, Henson's massive 7-foot-4 wingspan makes him an ideal fit within the Bucks' aggressive defensive scheme that produced the fourth-ranked defense last season. Henson's age also puts him on the same developmental schedule with the Bucks' young six-man nucleus.
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The rub, however, is that Milwaukee committed $50 million over the next three seasons to Greg Monroe with the intention of having him start at center. That frames Henson as a somewhat pricey option as the Bucks' first big off the bench. But with the salary cap slated to rise to $90 million next summer, and $108 million in 2016-17, Henson's total will become more palatable.
Going forward, the Bucks will have in excess of $30 million in cap room next summer to build around their young nucleus of Jabari Parker, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, Monroe, and Henson.
Henson averaged seven points, 4.7 rebounds, and two blocks in 18.3 minutes per game last season.