Milwaukee Bucks Starting 5: Locks, fringe, and break-ins for 2021-22

Milwaukee Bucks Starting Lineup: Who are potential break-in candidates?

Rodney Hood

This one seems unlikely, but stranger things have happened before. The Bucks are taking a rather low-risk gamble after signing Rodney Hood to a one-year minimum deal. The swingman has been unable to stay healthy over the past two seasons, being written off by many. He now has a chance to redeem himself with the reigning champs, and although all signs point to him getting his time off the bench, perhaps he could find himself in the starting lineup at some point because of his lethal scoring and electric shooting. He seems primed for a bench role, but time will tell if coach Budenholzer has other plans in store.

Pat Connaughton

As one of Milwaukee’s most reliable role players throughout the NBA Playoffs, Pat Connaughton proved many people wrong in this title run. With his sweet-shooting and solid defensive presence, Connaughton fits right in with the other members of this starting unit. As a matter of fact, after DiVincenzo went down in Game 3 against the Heat, it was Connaughton who started in Game 4. Had the Bucks not played the star-studded  Brooklyn Nets in the second round, which was a matchup tailor-made for P.J. Tucker due to the team needing him to guard Kevin Durant, perhaps Connaughton would have continued to start. If DiVincenzo is not healthy and Budenholzer views Allen as more of a bench piece, he would likely turn to Connaughton to start at the two. However, that seems unlikely as the guard has thrived in his bench role, but nothing is guaranteed.

Semi Ojeleye

If the Bucks are looking to bring another top-notch defender into the starting five, Semi Ojeleye could get some reps eventually. Ojeleye’s herculean size has helped him develop into a solid player on the defensive end during his first four seasons, which will be useful for the Bucks. Rolling out a Holiday-Middleton-Ojeleye-Antetokounmo-Lopez lineup has sky-high potential defensively due to the strengths each player brings to the table. This one might be somewhat far-fetched, but given his stature defensively, the possibility of Ojeleye starting should not be ruled out entirely.

Budenholzer has no shortage of options when rolling out the best starting five, and it will be compelling to see how things eventually pan out.