Milwaukee Bucks: 4 former players thriving with new teams this season

Torrey Craig has thrived since being traded by the Milwaukee Bucks

Torrey Craig’s short stint with the Bucks this season was a puzzling one from the beginning.

After signing with the team on a minimum deal in the offseason, Craig seemed to be one of the more under-the-radar additions during the free agency period. He has made a living in this league as a top-notch defender, and a player with his stature seemed like an ideal fit for the Bucks amid their major roster revamping.

However, Craig started the year off battling through a groin injury before breaking his nose in the team’s third game of the season. Those setbacks hindered his minutes early on, but he could never find much stability in the rotation even after he returned to full strength, averaging 11.2 minutes across just 18 games with the team in totality.

With the fit never panning out as many hoped, the Bucks made a deal with the Phoenix Suns for Craig in exchange for cash considerations before the trade deadline. The Suns have given the defensive ace a much more prominent role than the Bucks offered as he is averaging 6.7 points on a .524/.388/.786 slash line, 4.6 rebounds, and a single assist in 17 minutes per game.

While numbers like that do not necessarily jump off the page, Craig has earned himself a role with Phoenix that many envisioned when he signed with the Bucks. As the forward detailed shortly after being traded to the Suns, his fit with the Bucks was just bad timing as he was plagued with injuries that never allowed him to find a groove.

The forward now has the opportunity to play a key role on a playoff team that finds itself near the top of the Western Conference standings. While seeing Craig thrive elsewhere might sting for Bucks fans, it is welcoming to see the veteran get a well-deserved opportunity.