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Milwaukee Bucks: Grades/Reactions For The Steve Novak Deal

By Ti Windisch

Oct 13, 2014; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Jazz forward Steve Novak (16) warms up prior to the game against the Los Angeles Clippers at EnergySolutions Arena. The Jazz won 102-89. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 13, 2014; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Jazz forward Steve Novak (16) warms up prior to the game against the Los Angeles Clippers at EnergySolutions Arena. The Jazz won 102-89. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports /
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Cons

It seems as though the days of Steve Novak being a productive bench player in the NBA could be over. His minutes per game have dropped steadily since 2012-13, which was Novak’s best-ever season.

He averaged 20.3 minutes per game that year, and played in 81 games. Next year with Toronto, Novak averaged 10.0 minutes per game and played in just 54 contests.

He split time between Utah and Oklahoma City in his next season, and averaged 5.6 minutes per game in the 34 games he entered. Finally, last season Novak averaged 4.4 minutes per game and only got into 10 contests in his time with the Thunder and the Bucks.

One would think a knock-down shooter like Novak would find some time with teams in the modern NBA, but his defense holds him back from getting major minutes. Novak has never been a plus defender as per defensive box plus/minus, and he’s contributed just 3.4 wins to his teams on defense over 10 years (compared to the 11.1 he added on the other end).

Novak is hardly ancient, but his lack of defense and most offensive skills aside from three-point shooting makes it hard for coaches to keep him in games for long. He can shoot, but that’s about all he’ll add to the Bucks on the floor.

Next: Salary

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