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Milwaukee Bucks: Considering latest fifth starter hints

By Jordan Treske

LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 8: Head Coach Mike Budenholzer attends a game between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Minnesota Timberwolves on July 8, 2019 at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 8: Head Coach Mike Budenholzer attends a game between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Minnesota Timberwolves on July 8, 2019 at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Milwaukee Bucks have begun work for the 2019-20 season by holding their training camp this week and speculation has already begun regarding who will fill the vacant spot in the team’s starting lineup.

Preparations for the 2019-20 season are underway for the Milwaukee Bucks.

Following their Media Day on Monday, the Bucks took to the state capital to kick off their week-long training camp ahead of their preseason slate opening up on Monday night with a meeting against the new-look Chicago Bulls.

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With a comprehensive system in place that proved to be one of the biggest reasons behind their rise last season, the Bucks have focused on incorporating the new additions they made this offseason within their philosophies as well as getting everyone back up to speed in advance of a long campaign.

But among other questions they’re looking to address during camp and preseason is who they’ll turn to in order to fill the open spot in their starting lineup. Of course, that was previously occupied by 2017 NBA Rookie of the Year, Malcolm Brogdon, who’s playing elsewhere in the Central Division after inking a four-year, $85 million deal with the Indiana Pacers.

With the cast of developing 2-guards and wings the Bucks have between Sterling Brown, Pat Connaughton and Donte DiVincenzo, and the pair of veteran wing additions they made over the summer in Kyle Korver and Wesley Matthews, there’s plenty of competition and interesting looks head coach Mike Budenholzer could roll out and explore.

Just as my co-site expert Adam McGee touched on late last month, the storyline of who will be named the fifth starter in the Bucks’ starting lineup has already begun to stir up some speculation.

On hand during the Bucks’ stay in Madison over the last few days, The Athletic’s Eric Nehm asked Budenholzer directly who has been joining the holdover group of starters from last season, which he had said shared the floor for 70 to 80 percent of training camp:

"“The obvious answer is we don’t know who the starter is with that group,” Budenholzer said. “We’ll mix it up. I think there is some competition for that and some opportunity. I mean, we’re excited. Our wings, our depth on the wing between Wes and Pat and Sterling and Donte and Kyle. I think Khris is probably still going to start. It’s a great group to work with.”"

After getting familiar with him over his first season in Milwaukee last year, expecting anything other than a very vague, veiled response from Budenholzer would have been foolish and it’s no surprise to see him keep his cards close to the vest on the topic of deciding on who the fifth starter should be.

After all, it will be a topic that Budenholzer and the Bucks as a whole will be hearing a whole lot of throughout the year, as will be how they will go about replacing the range of skills and contributions Brogdon provided last season and throughout his time.

In his annual column outlining his tiers for all 30 teams around the league, ESPN’s Zach Lowe mentioned that it might be Brown who gets the “first crack” at filling Brogdon’s void in the starting lineup. Brown does have previous experience filling in that role as he did so at the end of last season and at the start of the Bucks’ playoff run when Brogdon, as well as Tony Snell, went down with injury at that point in the year.

Even with any and all anecdotes regarding who the Bucks will turn to as the fifth starter, and internet sleuthing of videos released by the Bucks themselves in terms of who is sharing the floor with Giannis Antetokounmpo, Eric Bledsoe, Khris Middleton, and Brook Lopez, no definitive answer will be given just yet on this front.

That will certainly continue as the Bucks open up their five-game preseason slate in the Windy City and that’s banking on all of their regular starters from last season seeing regular game action as they ramp up for the start of the 2019-20 campaign.

Next. Bucks: Year of Giannis Antetokounmpo speculation is underway. dark

Anything to keep us tuned in, I guess, but that wasn’t much of a problem to begin with as Bucks basketball is nearly, fully back.

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