Dating back to the 2020 offseason, the past several months have truly been an eventful ride for Donte DiVincenzo and the Milwaukee Bucks.
Of course, his tenure with the Bucks briefly came to an end that offseason as he was included in the trade package for Bogdan Bogdanovic. However, when that deal with the Sacramento Kings fell through, DiVincenzo was brought back to the Bucks, and it seemed like they made amends by giving him the starting shooting guard spot.
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DiVincenzo took advantage of his new opportunity by having the best season of his career, putting up new career highs in several categories across the board.
Unfortunately, his season ended far earlier than expected after the guard went down in the first round of the playoffs against the Miami Heat, soon after undergoing ankle surgery to repair the damage. He would miss out on the team’s title run, serving as a spectator on the sidelines.
Following the title run, DiVincenzo has seemingly become the forgotten man for the Bucks, which makes some sense since he was sidelined for the latter three rounds. With an entire offseason to recover, DiVincenzo should be more motivated than ever to prove himself entering year four with the Bucks, especially with all of the potential ripple effects it will have on his future. With that said, here are three reasons DiVincenzo should be inspired heading into the 2021-22 season.
No. 1 — Donte DiVincenzo has a contract year rapidly approaching with the Milwaukee Bucks
Year four will be DiVincenzo’s most important with the Bucks because he can receive an extension following the season. The guard will be a restricted free agent, which gives Milwaukee the chance to match any offer made by opposing teams to him to keep him around. While it seems feasible to believe he could get a new deal, there are a few concerns that could make the team hesitant.
The first question mark that the Bucks might consider is DiVincenzo’s health. Throughout the first three seasons in his career, the guard has endured two season-ending surgeries. During his rookie campaign in 2019, DiVincenzo’s season came to an abrupt end following a bout with bilateral heel bursitis. He stayed healthy and had a bounce-back year the following season, but he suffered a big blow this past season after tearing a ligament in his ankle during Game 3 against Miami.
With two significant foot injuries for DiVincenzo in three years resulting in his season coming to an early end, his health has grown concerning. Would the Bucks be willing to dish out long-term cash for a player that has these problems? It could be a gamble, particularly as DiVincenzo’s timeline to return next season remains unknown. Whenever he comes back next season, whether that means being ready by opening night or not, DiVincenzo will have to prove that he can stay healthy while performing at a high level.
DiVincenzo should certainly be motivated to prove his value for this Milwaukee team, and his health could ultimately be the determining factor in that. A healthy DiVincenzo was a key piece for the Bucks this past season and one that they would likely want to keep around for the foreseeable future, without question. With the most important season of his career on deck, the 24-year-old will have a chip on his shoulder entering 2021-22 as he looks to have a bounce-back campaign.
No. 2 — The Milwaukee Bucks traded for Donte DiVincenzo’s potential replacement this offseason in Grayson Allen
The Bucks trading for Grayson Allen has been arguably the most discussed storyline of their busy offseason, and understandably so. The most prominent question being debated among fans has been whether or not Allen should be the team’s new starting shooting guard over DiVincenzo.
If DiVincenzo is still recovering by the time next season rolls around, Allen will certainly get the call in the starting five. However, what if DiVincenzo has recovered? Would he be guaranteed his spot, or could he be demoted to the bench in favor of the newcomer? Both players have cases to be placed in the starting lineup, and that is among the toughest decisions that Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer will have to answer in the coming weeks leading up to next season.
If DiVincenzo is ready to roll by training camp, perhaps that question could help fuel competition between the two. After all, Allen has a great chance to start after piecing together a career year with the Memphis Grizzlies, where he was primarily a starter. The guard brings some defensive intensity into the fold and is a superior 3-point shooter to DiVincenzo. Coming into camp more motivated than ever to prove his place in the lineup, if healthy, would certainly catch the attention of the front office and players alike.
While there will not be any animosity directed toward one another because the goal is ultimately to win a title together, the surprising addition of Allen should help light a fire under DiVincenzo. In addition to potentially taking his starting spot, Allen is also set to be a restricted free agent after the 2021-22 season, and perhaps he could be in for a big payday if he lives up to expectations and DiVincenzo does not.
No. 3 — Donte DiVincenzo has been given a bad wrap over the past year with the Milwaukee Bucks
To no fault of his own, DiVincenzo could not breathe without being compared to Bogdanovic on multiple occasions last season. Despite putting together a career year of his own, DiVincenzo was constantly being compared to the sharpshooting Bogdanovic because fans were infatuated with the thought of what could have been.
DiVincenzo appeared motivated ealy in this season as he got off to a scorching hot start, causing fans to question whether or not they were genuinely upset that the trade fell through. However, it would not last as the guard would have his run ins with inconsistency throughout the season. It is one of the biggest flaws in his game, as DiVincenzo can look phenomenal one night, and then have an abysmal outing the very next game. When the latter took place, the comparrions to Bogdanovic would flood in like clockwork.
Although the Bucks ultimately managed to overthrow Bogdanovic and the Atlanta Hawks in the Eastern Conference Finals, the connection between those two will likely stick around. The guard should be motivated to knock that connection by taking another leap forward this coming season as he appeared to be doing in the early portion of 2020-21. DiVincenzo showed glimpses of his potential during last season before his injury, but he must put it all together and eradicate the inconsistent label that has followed him for three years now. It is that reputation that has fans clamoring for Allen to start over DiVincenzo from day one next season without hesitation.
For DiVincenzo to finally earn his respect, he will have to start by improving his game on the offensive end. While he looked more far comfortable offensively in the regular season with his outside shooting, his finishing at the rim was subpar. He also went cold throughout his first three games in the playoffs by shooting a vile 3-of-16 from the floor, including 2-of-12 from deep prior to his devastating injury.
Following this latest injury, many have already written off DiVincenzo, mostly because the team went ahead and won the title without him. As the guard prepares to make his return next season, he will be tasked with proving his place on this team and should have no shortage of motivation when it comes to doing just that.
DiVincenzo’s fourth year with the Bucks is shaping up to be interesting, and time will tell how things ultimately shake out.