The Milwaukee Bucks added several new pieces this offseason, and fans are anxiously waiting to see them all in action next season.
Among the fresh faces that will be in the fold, Semi Ojeleye is one newcomer that has already caught some attention. While fans were not overly enthusiastic when the Bucks inked Ojeleye to a one-year deal shortly into free agency — largely due to the fact that they were still stomaching the news that they had just lost a key player to an Eastern Conference Rival — many have started to come around to the move.
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Although Ojeleye is not the flashiest or most decorated player that the team could have added this offseason, he is someone who could fit in with them seamlessly if all goes according to plan.
He seems to be a ready-made contributor to the team, and he could have a big year ahead with the reigning champs. With all that being said, here are three goals for Ojeleye to target in 2021-22 with the Bucks.
Goal No. 1 – Semi Ojeleye should average a career-high in points with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2021-22
The Bucks certainly did not sign Ojeleye to be a second-unit scorer, as that will fall onto the broad shoulders of Bobby Portis and the newly re-signed George Hill. However, they would embrace the forward adding another scoring presence off the bench if he could improve that area of his game.
Throughout the first four seasons of his career with the Boston Celtics, Ojeleye has only averaged 3.5 points per game. He truly has never been a scoring threat to any extent, but he took a step in the right direction this past season by posting a career-high 4.6 points per contest. While that is nothing to rave about, there were flashes of potential throughout the year that showcased his scoring ability. This was apparent in a matchup with the Toronto Raptors last year where Ojeleye scored a career-high 24 points while knocking down an impressive six triples.
To be clear, Ojeley will not score 20 or more points on a nightly basis, and he might not even crack double-figures most nights. However, the potential for him to shatter his previous career-best in points per game at 4.6 is certainly achievable. He will not be the man scoring option off the bench like Portis, Hill, or even fellow newcomer Rodney Hood, but tallying somewhere around five points per game is doable, particularly if he can hit on this next goal.