It should be common knowledge by now that Jon Horst, the general manager of the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks, is among the best in the business.
Horst has proven to have an eye for talent over the years, bringing in players such as Jrue Holiday, P.J. Tucker, and Bobby Portis, who were all essential in last season’s title run. The former Executive of the Year has also negotiated deals with his star players in Giannis Antetokounmpo, Holiday, and Khris Middleton. Horst has shown that he will always take an aggressive approach when it comes to improving this roster, which is exactly what he did when he called up the Memphis Grizzlies this past offseason to talk about a deal for Grayson Allen.
On paper, a deal for Allen made sense. With Donte DiVincenzo set to be sidelined for a good chunk of the season in all likelihood following season-ending surgery in May, bringing in another young guard to fill the void was feasible. Better yet, Horst managed to snag Allen for two second round picks and Sam Merrill, who scarcely played throughout the 2020-21 season. The trade looked like a steal back then, and that has undeniably been the case throughout the first portion of the new season.
Grayson Allen has been phenomenal for the Milwaukee Bucks amidst their slow start to the 2021-22 NBA season
As it stands, Allen is the only starter to have played in all 13 games this season. Unfortunately, injuries, illnesses, and other issues have limited Milwaukee’s other key players, which might be a bad factor for a player that is looking to find his footing with a new franchise. However, Allen has not let these early woes deter him, as the guard is playing the best basketball of his career. Allen is currently averaging 15.8 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game.
The fourth-year guard is scoring the basketball unlike ever before, thanks to some elite shooting. Right now, Allen is shooting 43 percent from behind the arc on an eye-popping 8.8 attempts per contest, lighting it up from long range on a nightly basis. Allen was known as a serviceable shooter when the Bucks traded for him, but he has turned it up a notch since coming aboard. This shooting has been impressive early, particularly as Allen is just one of two players hitting 40 percent of their 3-pointers on at least 8.5 attempts per game, per NBA.com/stats. Who is the other player? Stephen Curry. When it comes to shooting, that is certainly not bad company to be in.
Allen has been phenomenal for the Bucks early, and he looks like he will be a key piece for them moving forward. To give Horst more praise, he also managed to extend Allen on a two-year deal worth $20 million before the season started, which could prove to be a steal fairly quickly, if it has not already. As great as he has been throughout these first 13 games, Allen’s best days as a Buck could very well still be ahead of him.
As evidenced by their most recent outing against the Boston Celtics, the Bucks are far from their best right now, and that mainly revolves around health. This team has played just one game with every starter in the lineup, and it was the first game of the season. Once everyone returns to the mix, this Milwaukee team will be dangerous, and all those open looks Allen is getting from 3-point range will increase further. The guard is a seamless fit for this franchise, and Horst hit a home run with this trade.
That extension Horst signed with the franchise in the offseason sets this franchise will keep this team in good hands when it comes to decision-making for the foreseeable future.