Milwaukee Bucks: 5 goals for Thon Maker in 2018-19 season

MILWAUKEE, WI - OCTOBER 13: Thon Maker #7 of the Milwaukee Bucks dunks the ball in the third quarter against the Detroit Pistons during a preseason game at BMO Harris Bradley Center on October 13, 2017 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

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WASHINGTON, DC – JANUARY 6: (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

Establishing consistent role within rotation

With the addition of veteran big man Brook Lopez, it’s anyone’s guess how the Bucks’ incumbent centers will come in on Budenholzer’s depth chart to enter the year.

As he has been for the first two seasons in his Bucks tenure, Maker projects to be the wild card in the team’s center rotation, given his skill set and need for minutes to stabilize his development at this time.

That need for game reps, though, became increasingly dispensable right before Maker’s postseason resurgence as he briefly fell out of Prunty’s rotation near the end of the regular season.

Considering one of Budenholzer’s trademarks in his time as a head coach has been prioritizing player development, reaching that same breaking point may not be in the cards for Maker’s case this season, fortunately.

But treading that fine line of needing playing time to enhance his development and being unable to provide solid center minutes still looms large unless Maker is able to prove otherwise throughout the coming campaign.

Next. Bucks: 5 goals for Ersan Ilyasova in 2018-19 season. dark

Be sure to keep coming around here to Behind the Buck Pass for more individual season previews in the lead up to the start of the 2018-19 NBA season.

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