Milwaukee Bucks: Best and Worst Case Scenarios For Next Season

Point Guard

It’s already clear from our look at Antetokounmpo that the Bucks’ point guard position is not at all typical of an NBA team.

Michael Carter-Williams came into last season as the presumptive starter, but the former Rookie of the Year’s lack of shooting ability and propensity toward turnovers were some of the main causes behind his own benching and the inception of Point Giannis.

To pair with Antetokounmpo, it would seem that the Bucks would function best with a low-usage, defensive-minded floor spacer at the nominal point guard position. Matthew Dellavedova, brought in this offseason as a free agent, fits all these qualifications, but his arrival means the Bucks have a large decision on their hands.

Do they start Delly and risk alienating MCW on the bench? Do they remain with Carter-Williams at the starter, a configuration that has already proved troublesome?

Personal feelings aside, it’s clear that Dellavedova should be starting to begin the season; on paper his fit is perfect, and Bucks fans should only be encouraged from what they saw from him during the Olympics.

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Coming off the bench, MCW would be free to soak up more shots and play with a friendlier spacing match in Mirza Teletovic. This role of a spark plug off the bench is very similar to what I’ve projected for Greg Monroe, and in fact, the Bucks’ point guard position is very similar to their center position.

In both cases, the overall more talented player (MCW and Monroe) would likely be best served in coming off the bench, clearing room for a better fit at the position. The only issue to remain would be the psyche of the affected players.

Luckily, MCW seems to recognize his own shortcomings, saying in an interview during the Bucks’ Summer League slate “last season I didn’t perform like I wanted to”. This admission is good news for those worried about the mental investment of one of their point guards.

Dellavedova should start, and MCW should perform better coming off the bench. Whether either scenario will come to  fruition has yet to be seen.

Best Case: Dellavedova “unlocks” Giannis and Jabari, MCW scores consistently off the bench in a defined role

Worst Case: MCW starts, Dellavedova is incorrectly used

Next: Wrap-Up