Milwaukee Bucks: To buy or sell on Frank Mason III in free agency
By Cody Larson
Milwaukee Bucks: To buy or sell on Frank Mason III in free agency – What to buy
For starters, it is important to point out the fact that the Bucks seem to be shopping around a specific player (*cough* Eric Bledsoe) in the trade market. It is unclear exactly what they are looking to get in return, but if the return does not include a point guard, then the team certainly will be needing to lock in some needed depth at the position.
Mason would essentially be a photocopy of what the Bucks would be looking for there, especially on offense. Mason has what will temporarily be called the “holy trinity of abilities.” This entails his ability in the pick-and-roll, self-creation opportunities and playmaking situations. Make mental notes of those three abilities in the following clip package:
Every single one of the above-highlighted possessions involves Mason making stuff happen, whether it be for himself or for his teammates, out of the pick-and-roll. It is important to note his minuscule professional sample size; but Mason managed to rank in the top 9 percent of all NBA pick-and-roll ball-handlers (in terms of points per possession) last season.
The skill he has under those scenarios is evident. He is like a ballet dancer when navigating around his roll man, and is great at leaving defenders guessing on when he actually plans to attack. If the defense commits, he can wait till the last second to kick the ball out to an open shooter. If the defense sags off, even for just a second, he can fire away at any distance away from the basket.
Mason’s FG% “by the distance”
- 8-feet or less: 58.5 percent
- 8-16 feet: 56.1 percent
- 16-24 feet: 39.1 percent
- 3-point range: 42.5 percent
Mason has always been a great finisher at the rim and converted 62.7 percent of his shots in the restricted area in the G League last season. But it was the surge in 3-point shooting, where he shot 42.5 percent from while with the Herd, that made Mason an even more dynamic pick-and-roll scoring threat.
Arguably, the number one thing on the Bucks’ wish list this offseason is finding more playmaking potential and shot-creating ability, specifically in the pick-and-roll. Luckily for them, that is exactly what Mason provides. Evidently, the team will also be in pursuit of more star power, something that Mason lacks. But at a cheap price, Mason’s “holy trinity of abilities” would be a re-welcomed addition.