Milwaukee Bucks: 3 ways Sam Merrill can crack rotation in 2020-21 season

Goal no. 2 – Maintain precise playmaking

For as tantalizing as Merrill’s sharpshooting is, the level-headed play he has historically shown with the ball in his hands is another asset in the Bucks’ favor.

Merrill certainly grew used to take on a more high-usage role for the Aggies as his college career unfolded and even logged a usage percentage as high as 26.5 percent during his junior season back in 2018-19.

As he took on such significant responsibilities and pulled the strings for the Aggies’ offense, Merrill’s tidy and reliable decision-making clearly stood out. And over his four years, Merrill averaged 3.6 assists per game in his 132 appearances as well as a career 22.2 assist percentage while posting a 2.29 assist-to-turnover ratio.

Coming into an established hierarchy like Milwaukee has with Giannis Antetokounmpo at the front, Merrill’s playmaking will come in a more secondary or tertiary fashion with the Bucks. But as he told The Rookie Wire’s Bryan Kalbrosky and Nick Friar last month, making the right play is all he’s looking to do:

"“My goal has just always been to make the right play. You’re not going to see me making flashy plays ever. That’s just not who I am. But I do try and make the right play and make the right decision, make the right reads. I do like playing in a fast-paced style. Maybe not running up or down, but again, playing fast within the flow of a half-court offense. Hopefully, that’s another thing I can provide: the ability to make plays for others.”"

When it came down to it, the Bucks simply didn’t have enough capable playmakers or ball movers when it mattered most. While it’s a longshot to consider Merrill for critical minutes like during the postseason, he certainly can help add a jolt of creativity into their overall system.