Milwaukee Bucks: Key Issues Facing The Bucks’ Core Pieces
By Adam Coffman
Matthew Dellavedova
Can he replicate his prior success without LeBron?
Even without appearing in a regular season game for the Bucks yet, Matthew Dellavedova has already become one of the most controversial Bucks players of the modern era.
Perhaps it’s his undrafted, underdog status or maybe it’s due to his rather goofy look and lack of the supreme athleticism and length that have come to define the Bucks. In any case, there are many of those who don’t believe Delly was worth the four years and $38 million the Bucks gave him this offseason.
In a vacuum, Dellavedova’s skillset is exactly what the Bucks are looking for at the point guard position, especially when paired with Antetokounmpo. Although it may have been overhyped after the 2015 Finals, his physical brand of defense will at least be a definite plus to a unit that struggled defending the perimeter last season.
Delly also brings a much needed three-ball to the table, shooting a blistering 46.9 percent from behind the arc in catch-and-shoot situations. This figures to gel nicely with the likes of Jabari Parker and Giannis Antetokounmpo, two more ball-dominant wings with less than stellar averages from behind the arc.
However, when looking at Delly’s previous numbers, it can’t be ignored that he was a member of the NBA champion Cleveland Cavaliers last year, playing alongside LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, and a myriad of other talents.
It remains to be seen what this change of scenery will do to Dellevedova’s numbers, but if his performance in the Olympics is to be taken as any indication, prospects look good.
It appears that the Bucks’ front office agrees in this respect as well, as they have dealt point guards Tyler Ennis and Michael Carter-Williams away in trades, putting the starting point guarf spot squarely in Delly’s hands.
If the Aussie can translate his Cleveland stat line to Miwaukee, Bucks fans will be more than happy with the ideal fit he brings to the team.