NSL Insider - Team by team: Milwaukee Bucksby Nenjabin, updated on Wednesday, December 02 2020, 11:20 am EST
2019-20 Finish: 16-66 Season Highlight: The Bucks
had little to celebrate throughout this year, and that’s how Badwolf designed
the team from the get go. Their highlight is most definitely finally seeing
Zion hit the floor. He had to wait weeks and weeks into the season, but he came
and started to shine. His numbers don’t jump off the page, but he was showing
what he can do in the NBA for sure and the NSL will come. 14/6/2/1/1 in 26mins
a game, the only way is up for the young prodigy! Season Lowlight: The lowlight
is clear. 16 wins. The Bucks flat out stank last year and they were actively
trying to do so too, not even giving their main man the full minutes allocation
once he returned. For that reason, maybe the losing was actually a highlight
for Wolf himself? But then it all went pear shaped again when they ended up
with only the 5th pick in the draft and not the 1st…the
reward for 7 more losses than any other team. Best Trade: There really
are very few to choose from, and they’re all so even. Bucks send: Miles
Bridges This trade
is kinda sideways to be honest, but there is only 4 trades to choose from and
the others are simply, worse. Bridges has at least shown he’s unlikely to ever
be a star player, but he’s a good defender and shooter and can fit into any
role playing role I believe. That said, the pick could have been anything and
he’s ended up with Nesmith who is a leaps and bounds better shooter with
potential to at least be a decent defender too. Worst Trade: Bucks send: Zach
LaVine and Thanasis Antetokounmpo The Bucks
don’t often get the wool pulled over their eyes, but this one is going down for
the ages. LaVine transformed the Warriors into a playoff team and they flew up
the standings so while the trade might have looked to have made more sense when
they were a near top 5 pick, it quickly became all the Warriors winning here
with Goga and Precious for LaVine the final product. To have your time again? Other Notable Trades: Bucks send: Patrick
McCaw McCaw isn’t
special, but he’s worth more than this. Bucks send:
Grayson Allen and Robin Lopez Zhaire is
gone now, so in the end, it’s Isaiah Joe for Grayson? Free Agency: The Bucks
are in a little bit of flux really, but they’re all the unwanted big salaries
they had. How are they going to reach the minimum salary? Bottom line, they’re
not. Waive goodbye to most of these guys. Derrick Jones Jr – UFA, wanting to test the market. Ian Mahinmi – UFA, mutually parting ways. Tyler Johnson – UFA, maybe some interest in
bringing back? Unlikely. Solomon Hill – UFA, mutually parting ways. Adam Mokoka – Expired 2way, RFA if desired. Zhaire Smith – UFA, hoping to find a deal
somewhere, possibly interested in bringing back. Star: While Zion
was who all eyes were on last year, Shai was and is the star of this team for
now. He played and started in all 82 games and had averages of 15/5/5/1 in 30
minutes a night. He’s rumoured to be moving to PG entirely this coming season
which should only further boost his numbers and experience and he’s on the fast
track to NBA stardom. He’s not quite there yet, but in Milwaukee, he’s the most
important person on the team outside of the enigma. Goat: Zhaire Smith This one
was, unfortunately, easy. Zhaire has been around a couple of years now and
nothing. Yes, he’s been injured, but he’s also quite simply not that good. He
showed so much promise and was taken relatively high in the NBA draft, and now
he’s found himself salary dumped and waived and quite possibly out of the
league for a least a year until he can show in the GLeague that he can make it
on the top level. The Bucks gave up a solid other guard to bring him in too,
all for naught. Draft Grades: Pick 5 – Killian Hayes A Grade A mixed bag for the
draft loving Bucks but you can’t really fault any of the selections which is
good enough for the A. Hayes is the future in Detroit in the NBA so makes sense
at 5 next to Shai. Nesmith is the best shooter in the draft with good tools to
be more, and was right around that 14 mark too. Precious was right around the
mark too and looks like a nice hustle big man to pay both spots with room to
grow. Woodard is ready right now to play a sweeter shooting Roberson type role,
but he’s pretty much going to be set as that off ball defender guy. But he will
stick. Madar we’ll judge in a couple of years more likely, but he’s a solid
stash PG and then there’s Joe who needs to start doing anything else other than
shooting…or at least re-find the vigor as a shooter he once showed, to then
find a spot. The Future: The Bucks
are all future! They’re going to be even younger this year than last year
unless they do something crazy in free agency, but Wolf is going to want to
lose again. What will be the result of their free agency and the development of
their youth? C: Precious
Achiawu / Goga Bitadze |
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