Milwaukee Bucks: Grades for Semi Ojeleye’s one-year deal

BOSTON, MA - APRIL 24 (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - APRIL 24 (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
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Milwaukee Bucks: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Boston Celtics: Semi Ojeleye
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FL – JULY 31 (Photo by Ashley Landis-Pool/Getty Images)

What is the grade for the Semi Ojeleye signing for the Milwaukee Bucks?

I feel a bit bad for Ojeleye after signing with the Bucks.

He’ll have the weight of being the P.J. Tucker replacement (barring another potential signing) when he isn’t going to be that caliber of player and his salary reflects that. Yet, because it’s coming directly after the Bucks lost Tucker for what’s being speculated as the owners being cheap about not going further into the luxury tax, Ojeleye is going to feel that pressure from fans to step in and be an immediate fix.

On its own, I like the signing well enough. It costs nothing to get a look at a 26-year-old who could help unlock the switchable defense that we saw help the Bucks tremendously in the playoffs. He can simultaneously space the floor and hit 3-pointers reliably enough in the regular season to help carve out a role for himself easy enough.

I don’t know how much he can be relied upon when the playoffs begin, but Mike Budenholzer and his staff have found ways to put players in their best position to succeed. I’m sure there is a defined role already in place for Ojeleye, and if he, as Giannis Antetokounmpo says, can be a star in his role, this should be a pretty solid signing.

BTBP Final Grade: B