Milwaukee Bucks: 5 observations from first 5 games of 2021-22 season
By Dalton Sell
No. 2: The Milwaukee Bucks could use a serviceable backup big man
The Bucks do not have the most roster flexibility at this time, but one thing that the team could use is another backup big man.
Although it is not time to hit the panic button on Lopez, this back soreness is concerning to some degree. He has already missed four games this season, two more than he did all of last year. This could be a lingering issue, and with the big man nearing 34-years-old, he will not be getting any younger as the year goes on. As long as this injury is bothering Lopez, the team will not rush him back into the lineup. Ojeleye recently talked about how the staff was cautious with his calf strain and kept him sidelined for longer than he initially anticipated. They will take a similar approach to prioritize health when it comes to their starting center.
Having Portis back helps give Milwaukee some size, but he cannot be the team’s lone big man on a nightly basis. Before Portis returned, rookie Sandro Mamukelashvili played meaningful minutes for the Bucks, but it was clear that he was not ready for such a prominent role, as they assigned him to join the Wisconsin Herd, the G-League affiliate, to get some reps. Giannis Antetokounmpo has been forced to play extra minutes at the center position due to this predicament, and while he can hold his own there, it is not sustainable for long stretches over the regular season.
It would take some serious string-pulling, but the Bucks could use another big man on the roster to bolster their frontcourt depth. Johnny O’Bryant spent training camp and the preseason with the Bucks, and they have that previous familiarity with him. DeMarcus Cousins might not be the player that he once was and he would not help the team defensively, but he would be a household name to bring in. Time will tell what the team decides to do, but adding a center would be a solid move to give the team some extra insurance as they try to maneuver through these injuries.