Milwaukee Bucks: 2021-22 point guard rotation should provide stability
By Dalton Sell
The point guard position has been a rather problematic one for the Milwaukee Bucks over the past few seasons, to say the very least.
Of course, the player that has been discussed the most involving this issue is Eric Bledsoe, who the Bucks traded for nearly four years ago. While it was a solid move for a team on the rise at the time, the trade never quite panned out as many hoped. Bledsoe always had his share of struggles in the playoffs, which forced the team to play his backup, George Hill, nearly as many minutes in back-to-back postseasons.
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While Bledsoe’s brutal postseason woes were not the sole reason why the Bucks never managed to get over the hump, they were certainly a key part, which made it no surprise when the team traded him, Hill, and a significant amount of draft picks to the New Orleans Pelicans for Jrue Holiday last offseason.
Holiday proved to be the perfect guard for the Bucks last season as his efforts were written all over the team’s title run, giving them the perfect amount of two-way play and toughness to help conquer their postseason demons.
While Holiday’s fit as the starter was never in question, the Bucks faced problems when it came to his backup last season. It was initially D.J. Augustin set to fill the role after the team gave him a big payday in free agency, but the fit never worked out as many hoped. After Augustin was traded, the Bucks brought in Jeff Teague via the buyout market, who also struggled to find his footing and did not play many meaningful minutes in Milwaukee’s title run.
The point guard position has been rather troublesome for the Milwaukee Bucks, but they should have some stability in 2021-22
Understanding that point guard would be a premium for the Bucks, the front office has done everything in their power to bolster the rotation. Of course, they handed Holiday a massive extension midway through last season to keep him around for the foreseeable future, but they would be tasked with adding a quality backup in free agency or via trade.
Ultimately, general manager Jon Horst worked his magic once again by signing Hill an offseason after the team had traded him, signaling that there were no hard feelings. Hill will join the Bucks and reclaim his spot as the team’s backup floor general on a deal that, in all honesty, is feasible for a player like him, who will have an immediate role when next season begins.
Milwaukee’s two-man guard rotation with Holiday and Hill has the potential to be very special. Anyone who watched the playoff run witnessed just how impactful Holiday can be on both ends of the floor. As he enters year two with the Bucks, he will only be more acquainted with the system and the players around him, meaning he could be even better. Holiday showed last season that he was a needle-tipping addition, and the Bucks are certainly glad to have him locked in.
When Holiday needs a breather, the team can throw a reliable player like Hill out on the floor, which should be assuring. Although he is coming off a subpar stint with the Philadelphia 76ers, Hill was battling through a thumb injury and had to deal with the troubles that come with being traded to a new team during the middle of the season.
With the Bucks, Hill will join a team that he already has familiarity before. He knows what it is like to play for head coach Mike Budenholzer and play alongside players like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, and Brook Lopez. That should help make the transition back to Milwaukee easier for him than it would have been if he went elsewhere.
Ultimately, the Bucks have a solid one-two-punch at point guard with Holiday and Hill. That is not even counting their intriguing rookie Georgios Kalaitzakis and a recently signed Tremont Waters, who could be two players that could bolster the position further.
Next. Milwaukee Bucks: Ranking every player on the 2021-22 roster. dark
As long as Holiday and Hill are the top two, the Bucks should feel comfortable with their point guard rotation in 2021-22.