Reactions to the Milwaukee Bucks signing Jeff Dowtin to 10-day

As the health and safety protocol numbers rise for the Milwaukee Bucks, they have added another player to a 10-day hardship exception. According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, the Bucks have signed guard Jeff Dowtin, bringing their number of 10-day players to three.

Before we get to Dowtin, the Bucks have four players listed as out tonight against the Brooklyn Nets due to health and safety protocols in Jrue Holiday, Grayson Allen, Pat Connaughton, and George Hill. That’s a lot of guards, so the signing of Dowtin makes sense.

He joins Luke Kornet and Langston Galloway as the other 10-day players on the roster tonight and is the fourth overall hardship exception the Bucks have added due to players in protocols (Javin DeLaurier being the first).

Instant reactions to the Milwaukee Bucks adding Jeff Dowtin to a 10-day

Dowtin is a 6’3″, 185-pound 24-year-old rookie who went undrafted in the 2020 NBA Draft but was signed by the Orlando Magic to an Exhibit-10 contract. He didn’t play in any regular-season games for the Magic but did play for their affiliate, the Lakeland Magic. He did hit a preseason game-winner though.

He played in 15 games and averaged 6.5 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 2.5 assists for the eventual G League Bubble champions. He was waived in October, claimed by the Golden State Warriors, and signed a two-way contract.

Dowtin made four appearances for the Warriors, with the majority of his 28 NBA minutes coming against the Toronto Raptors on December 18th. He played over 17 minutes and posted a modest two points (1-of-2 from the field), five rebounds, three assists, and a block.

Most of his experience this season came with the Santa Cruz Warriors, where he played 12 games and averaged 17.7 points, 6.2 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and 1.3 steals in over 35 minutes a night.

Of course, this signing is going to help the Bucks in the short term by having an extra guard available for at least tonight against the Brooklyn Nets and tomorrow night against the Charlotte Hornets.

Before the signing of Dowtin, the Bucks were left with two guards (Javonte Smart and Galloway) on the roster and that wasn’t going to cut it.

However, due to Dowtin’s limited NBA experience, I would be surprised if he played much at all in these next two games. The best-case scenario for him is that he sees around 15 minutes if Smart or the veteran Galloway get into foul trouble.

Smart will likely get the start in the next couple of games as there is a good opportunity in front of him to prove that he can be a solid piece of the Bucks’ plans as a rotation player down the line.

There could be more to this signing, though. Dowtin put up outstanding numbers for the Warriors’ G League affiliate and the Bucks could be wanting to get an extra look at him in case they’re interested in signing him to the Wisconsin Herd after his 10-day deal expires.

The Herd was on a terrific start to their Showcase Cup schedule before a handful of their key players were signed to 10-day contracts. They’ve now begun their 36-game regular season and have started 1-0 and could be in the market for an extra body like Dowtin who has performed quite well in the G League thus far.

Don’t expect to see Dowtin much over the next 10 days unless he’s desperately needed during the next few games, but he is a decent insurance policy with some size in a similar mold to Smart.

And no, the Bucks did not waive DeMarcus Cousins to sign Dowtin, as I’ve seen some point out. They would have needed a guard regardless and could have signed Dowtin with Cousins still on the roster.