Milwaukee Bucks: Takeaways from 2018 NBA Summer League
By Adam McGee
Joining the Herd?
While the Bucks’ Summer League team included James Blackmon Jr. and JeQuan Lewis who both spent last season playing in the G League with the Wisconsin Herd, the front office may be eager to add some others to that mix for the coming season.
The Herd could end up losing key contributors to more lucrative professional deals overseas or even two-way contracts from other NBA teams, and as a result, staying on top of every possible option to improve and build a competitive roster is essential at the G League level.
Travis Trice offered some of the most notable contributions through Milwaukee’s five games, not just showing great touch from three-point range (45.5 percent) and steady playmaking (4.0 assists per game), but also a knack for making important defensive plays at pivotal times.
Trice has played in Australia and Lebanon since he last suited up in the G League and, if he was to return, the Herd would likely still have to work on a deal with the Westchester Knicks.
Much less complicated cases on that front are undrafted rookies Jordan Barnett and Trae Bell-Haynes. Barnett, in particular, showed glimpses of sharpshooting, rebounding and athleticism which could all make him a valuable contributor in Oshkosh.
Whether any of those Summer League players end up with the Herd remains to be seen, but there are certainly a few of them worthy of such attention.