The Milwaukee Bucks have been busy retooling their roster in free agency after securing their first title in over 50 years.
Among the transactions, one player that will not be returning to the team is Bryn Forbes, who agreed to return to the San Antonio Spurs after one year with the Bucks. While the financial specifics of the deal remain unknown, the writing was always on the wall that Forbes would likely be the first free agent out the door, given that he was likely seeking a hefty raise and saw his role in the rotation minimize as the postseason went on.
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With Forbes expectedly leaving, the Bucks lose arguably their best 3-point shooter and a player that boasted the fourth-most efficient percentage from deep during the regular season in 2020-21.
Forbes was such a stellar fit for the Bucks because his shooting made him a perfect pairing with Giannis Antetokounmpo. With the Greek Freak bulldozing his way to the basket, having a reliable shooter in Forbes out on the perimeter proved to be a great one-two punch offensively.
According to NBA.com/stats, Forbes spent 698 minutes paired alongside Giannis in the regular season, the most among any of his teammates. It was a rather simple formula constructed by head coach Mike Budenholzer to keep the two close together, but one that ultimately proved to be a key dynamic in their success.
With Forbes back in San Antonio, where he spent the previous four years of his career, the Bucks will be looking for someone to take that role and provide a massive dose of outside shooting next to Antetokounmpo. It would appear that they already have some qualified options on their roster in that regard, and here are three players that could potentially earn a spot in the rotation with Forbes leaving.
Grayson Allen could replace Bryn Forbes for the Milwaukee Bucks next season
First and foremost, many do not think of sharpshooting when they think of Grayson Allen, and understandably so.
The guard is mostly known for his antics on the court, but after surprisingly being traded to the Bucks Friday afternoon, he could help shore up their shooting. After all, the 25-year-old has shot 38.1 percent from behind the arc throughout the first three seasons of his career. That includes coming off his most productive season yet in 2020-21 by shooting 39.1 percent on 5.5 attempts per game with the Memphis Grizzlies.
While Allen is not classified as the knockdown shooter that Forbes is, he will still bring a nice shooting touch to the team’s rotation. That will make him an easy pairing with Giannis in the lineup by providing the Greek Freak with some floor spacing. In addition to his shooting, Allen should be an all-around impactful rotational piece with his defense, hustle, and everything else he brings to the table.
The Bucks paid a solid price to acquire Allen as they gave up Sam Merrill (a guard who could have easily made this list) and two future second round picks. Yet, it seems like it will be worth it as Allen should be a meaningful contributor from day one with his new team.
Rodney Hood could replace Bryn Forbes for the Milwaukee Bucks next season
The Bucks inked Rodney Hood to a one-year deal worth the veteran’s minimum this offseason, a move that has been largely glossed over. That is understandable to some degree, as the veteran has been injured consistently over the past two seasons, but if healthy, he could give this team a boost on the perimeter.
While Forbes is regarded as a genuine catch-and-shoot threat, Hood is not mentioned in the same breath. His shooting numbers over the past two seasons could not be further apart on the spectrum in that regard. His catch-and-shoot numbers this past season were simply awful as Hood shot an abysmal 18-of-73 (24.7 percent) on those tries. However, before injuring his Achillies 21 games into the 2019-20 season, Hood was thriving in the catch-and-shoot role by shooting 26-of-47 (55.3 percent) with the Portland Trail Blazers.
It will be interesting to see if he can find a consistent balance with his catch-and-shoot tries with the Bucks, which would clearly be a significant lift. Despite having the worst long-range shooting season of his career in 2020-21 by clocking in 30.1 percent of his triples, largely due to his awful catch-and-shoot numbers, Hood still has shot 36.7 percent from the outside for his career. He has proven to be a serviceable 3-point shooter, and he could slide nicely into that role previously filled by Forbes to give the team another outside threat.
Jordan Nwora could replace Bryn Forbes for the Milwaukee Bucks next season
Selected 45th overall by the Bucks in the 2020 NBA Draft, Jordan Nwora’s fit in Milwaukee made sense for many reasons.
During his final two collegiate seasons at Louisville, the forward averaged 17.5 points while shooting 44.3 percent from the field and 38.7 percent from deep. His outside shot was what captivated many as he was given the green light by heaving 6.1 attempts per contest in that timeframe. Nwora showed unlimited potential during his three-year stay at the college level and practically fell into Milwaukee’s lap in the second round.
Much like his fellow rookie, Nwora’s playing time was largely scattered throughout his first year with the Bucks. Yet, he showed untapped promise during his minutes by shooting 45.2 percent from 3-point territory. His potential was on full display not just with his shooting but with his overall game as the forward scored 20 or more points in three of the four games where he exceeded 20 minutes this past year.
Appearing a promise-filled rookie season and a stellar showing in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Nwora looks like a ready-made contributor for the Bucks next season. His outside shooting will make him an immediate threat offensively, making it essential that he gets time next to Giannis next season.
The 22-year-old is poised to make a significant leap in his sophomore season with the Bucks, and time will tell if he receives the opportunity.