We’ve officially made it to the NBA All-Star break, meaning the Milwaukee Bucks have already played through the first half of the season.
Typically at this time of the year, the Bucks would comfortably be sitting atop the NBA standings with the best record, but that has not been the case this season. With a 22-14 overall record, this team has been far from perfect as they try to figure things out.
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Part of their struggles stems from their reshaped roster as these new players try to get acquainted and perfect chemistry. While the starters have done a fantastic job of doing so, the reserves have had their share of issues.
With an inconsistent first half of the season out of the way, it is time to dish out grades for Milwaukee’s second unit.
Before we dive in, draft picks Sam Merrill and Jordan Nwora, along with two-way players Mamadi Diakite and Myles Powell will not be included as they have spent little to no time with the team.
Milwaukee Bucks: All-Star break grade for D.J. Wilson
Now in his fourth season in Milwaukee, D.J. Wilson remains an afterthought in the rotation.
The 25-year-old has logged just 99 minutes in 11 appearances this year, hardly seeing the floor in any meaningful moments. Typically getting minutes in cleanup time, Wilson has not impressed much when he has been fortunate enough to see the floor, scoring 40 total points on 15-of-41 shooting from the floor, including 9-of-26 from deep.
The 17th overall draft pick in the 2017 NBA Draft has never been able to find consistent opportunities with the franchise, and this year has not different. The Bucks hold a qualifying offer for the forward worth $6.4 million to bring him back with the team next season, but if he continues to sit on the end of the bench, it seems highly unlikely they’d tender such an offer if he remains on the roster going into the offseason.
BTBP All-Star Break Grade: D
Milwaukee Bucks: All-Star break grade for Thanasis Antetokounmpo
After playing just 20 games all of last season with the Bucks, Thanasis Antetokounmpo has already surpassed that total with 26 appearances at the All-Star break.
Antetokounmo’s box score numbers will not tell the full story as he is averaging just 2.3 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 0.7 assists in 8.7 minutes per game. Antetokounmpo is not a double-digit scorer or top-tier playmaker, but he brings an immeasurable dose of energy and hustle that seems to ignite this team when he steps on the floor.
Head coach Mike Budenholzer has used to 28-year-old primarily as a sparkplug off the bench, and he has played that role to perfection. Whether it be throwing himself at a loose ball, playing some oftentimes too aggressive defense, or whatever else, fans will always be able to pinpoint his exact location.
Logging 19 turnovers on the season is certainly not ideal, but for what the team is asking him to do, Thanasis has been fine in the rotation. While he might not see action every game, he will remain ready for the call whenever necessary. Finding himself playing a role on one of the league’s premier contending teams, it will be interesting to see how this experiment continues.
BTBP All-Star Break Grade: B –
Milwaukee Bucks: All-Star break grade for Torrey Craig
After signing with the team this offseason, many were excited to see what Torrey Craig would bring to the table in Milwaukee.
The forward had just finished a deep postseason run to the Western Conference Finals with the Denver Nuggets, serving as a defensive specialist and key rotational piece. The Bucks scooped him off the free agent market on a veteran minimum deal, seemingly landing one of the bigger offseason steals.
However, Craig has surprisingly been scraping the bottom of the barrel for minutes in the rotation for a large part of this season as he’s found himself in and out of the lineup. This has rubbed some Bucks fans the wrong way because of the 30-year-old’s defensive stature, something that the team could certainly use as their play on that side of the ball continues to highlight their struggles.
When he has stepped on the floor, the forward is not putting up the most impactful numbers, averaging just 2.5 points on a .395/.381/.500 slash line, 2.5 rebounds, and 0.8 assists in 11.4 minutes per game. He has failed to genuinely make his mark on the team, and his lack of steady playing time could be to blame for that.
Nevertheless, Craig is someone that this team will need down the road in the postseason when they come across All-Star wings like Kevin Durant, Jimmy Butler, or Jayson Tatum. That has always been the endgame many envisioned when the team signed him, and his time will come.
Still, with little time in the rotation and currently putting up highly inefficient numbers, Craig has some work to do, and hopefully he gets the opportunity to prove his worth.
BTBP All-Star Break Grade: C+
Milwaukee Bucks: All-Star break grade for D.J. Augustin
Another high-profile free agent signing that has not exactly panned out as many hoped for the Bucks has been D.J. Augustin.
The Bucks paid a hefty price to bring the backup point guard to Milwaukee this offseason, inking him to a three-year, $21 million deal. Still, given his reputation as a serviceable floor general, it appeared that this move had some tremendous upside.
Augustin has yet to find his footing with the team whatsoever by averaging just 6.1 points on .350/.366/.897 shooting splits, 1.4 rebounds, and three assists in 19.5 minutes per game. The guard has failed to make much of an impact on this team, which has been a significant disappointment.
The 33-year-old has shown brief stretches of potential during certain stretches this season, but nothing has been sustainable full-time just yet. He is a piece that could help take Milwaukee’s bench up a notch, but patience is running out.
All eyes will be on Augustin throughout the second half of the season as he has unfinished business following a rough start. Strictly judging his first 34 games with Milwaukee, the veteran did not exactly make the strongest first impression with the Bucks.
BTBP All-Star Break Grade: D+
Milwaukee Bucks: All-Star break grade for Bobby Portis
It goes without saying that Bobby Portis has been the best player off Milwaukee’s bench this season.
The former Arkansas Razorback has been having a fantastic season with the Bucks by averaging 10.9 points while shooting 54.6 percent from the floor and an impressive 50 percent from deep. Hitting half of his shots from behind the arc this year, Portis is shooting the third-highest percentage in the league, providing a sizeable dose of floor spacing for Milwaukee.
Chipping in 7.1 rebounds and a single assists per game as well, the 26-year-old has been one of the more productive sixth men in the league. Portis continues making a sizeable impact for the Bucks night in and night out, asserting himself as one of their more prominent contributors.
While his efforts defensively still need work, the big man has undoubtedly impressed during his first stretch of games in Milwaukee. Portis recently discussed how his top priority in free agency was joining an organization that would give him an opportunity to win, and he has embraced playing with the Bucks entirely.
Playing with a sizeable chip on his shoulder every game, Portis continues to grow as a fan favorite in the city. Hopefully, these first 36 games are just the beginning of something special.
BTBP All-Star Break Grade: A
Milwaukee Bucks: All-Star break grade for Bryn Forbes
The Bucks brought in Bryn Forbes during free agency to shore up their shooting off the bench, and he has done just that in the early going with the team.
In 36 games with the franchise, Forbes has averaged 9.3 points while shooting .467 percent from the floor and 44.8 percent from deep. The 26-year-old made his mark on this team early by providing a scoring boost off the bench, and he has been a key contributor.
Thanks to his electric shooting, Forbes has been at his best when paired alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Greek Freak takes significant pressure off Forbes, giving him a hefty share of open looks to let it fly from the perimeter offensively, just like the team likely envisioned when they signed him.
Forbes’ efforts defensively are nothing to rave about, but he has put forth his contributions offensively to try and make up for it. As long as he continues knocking down the long ball consistently, the guard will be a welcoming member of the rotation moving forward.
Forbes has been an impactful addition to this team, proving to be one of their better offseason acquisitions.
BTBP All-Star Break Grade: B+
Milwaukee Bucks: All-Star break grade for Pat Connaughton
Many questioned the decision making of the Bucks’ front office when they handed Pat Connaughton a three-year, $16 million deal this offseason. Although it was made more justifiable by using his Early Bird Rights to bring the guard back, he would have to prove himself after a lackluster playoff run.
In 33 appearances this season, Connaughton has been relatively solid off the bench, averaging 6.5 points on a .443/.393/.824 slash line, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.4 assists. Playing a career-high 21.1 minutes per game, the 28-year-old has seen a more prominent role than ever before, and to his credit, he has stepped up.
The biggest factor playing into Connaughton’s success this season has been his improved shooting from behind the arc. After shooting just 33.1 percent on 2.9 attempts throughout his first two seasons in Milwaukee, he is knocking down 39.3 percent of his 3.9 attempts this year. That floor spacing has been a welcoming revelation, and hopefully it is sustainable.
Logging the second-most minutes off the bench behind Portis, the Bucks will need big contributions from Connaughton moving forward.
Particularly with his shooting, the guard could potentially be an x-factor off Milwaukee’s bench, and they will need him to stay solid in the second half.