Milwaukee Bucks: Comparing retooled 2021-22 roster to title-winning team
By Dalton Sell
Milwaukee Bucks: Comparing 2021-22 bench to last season’s unit
The new additions to the bench are where things truly get interesting for the Bucks, as they made several interesting moves to improve their depth.
Among the notable names that the team brought in are Grayson Allen, George Hill, Rodney Hood, and Semi Ojeleye. Each player brings something different to the table, helping the Bucks fill a need in several areas. For Allen, he will give the team some wing depth and potentially an opening night starter if DiVincenzo is not ready to go. Hill will serve as a savvy backup point guard after the team did not bring back Jeff Teague in free agency. If healthy, Rodney Hood can provide sharpshooting and scoring off the bench, and Semi Ojeleye will help bulk up the defense after Tucker’s departure.
On another note, Bobby Portis and Pat Connaughton highlight the players that will be returning for the Bucks next season. Portis proved to be a crucial piece for the Bucks last season in the second unit, proving the team with scoring, rebounding, and most notably, endless energy. Connaughton proved his doubters wrong by playing hefty minutes throughout the team’s playoff run and doing everything like a swiss army knife. He was knocking down triples, playing defense, diving on loose balls, and all of the dirty work. These two will lead the bench mob next season, meaning they are in good hands. Thanasis Antetokounmpo must not be forgotten in all of this as he will earn some minutes in the rotation himself due to his effort and tireless motor.
The biggest losses for the Bucks will be Tucker and Bryn Forbes. Although Tucker was a starter for most of his time with the team following DiVincenzo’s injury, he was brought aboard as a bench player. The team will have a tough time filling his role defensively, but they will look to players like Connaughton, Ojeleye, and even Antetokounmpo to try and pick up the slack. With Forbes, the team clearly valued his 3-point shooting and they will ask players like Allen, Hill, and Hood to let it fly from behind the arc to keep the team’s shooting intact.