Milwaukee Bucks’ to-do list leading up to 2022 NBA trade deadline

Milwaukee Bucks’ 2022 NBA trade deadline to-do list: Target second unit scoring

Bench production has been a significant weakness for the Bucks all season as they currently rank 29th in second unit points per game. They have been especially bad throughout Milwaukee’s first 11 games in January by producing a league-worst 21.1 points while shooting 32.8 percent from the floor and 26.4 percent from behind the arc, according to NBA.com/stats. These numbers have plagued the Bucks, and they could certainly benefit from targeting more bench scoring.

Two second unit players that have been scrutinized lately are Donte DiVincenzo and George Hill. Since returning from ankle surgery along with a short stay in the health and safety protocols, the 25-year-old DiVincenzo has struggled mightily. In six games this season, he is averaging 5.3 points while shooting 18.9 percent from the field and 23.1 percent from deep. DiVincenzo has turned into a liability offensively. Hill has averaged a passable 6.9 points on the year, but his efficient shooting prowess has been nowhere to be found as he is hitting a career-low 30.6 percent of his triples. The bench backcourt could undoubtedly use some changes.

Elsewhere, two others under a microscope are Jordan Nwora and Rodney Hood. Nwora entered the season with an opportunity to carve out a role for himself, but he has been in and out of the lineup for most of the year. This is largely due to his inconsistencies on offense, as he could come out and score double-digits one night and then lay an egg the next game. His defense has been a condemning factor as well, as the forward was yanked from the game after less than five minutes against the Raptors recently due to blowing multiple defensive assignments. Considering he can’t stay on the floor consistently, Nwora finds himself in an awkward position. Hood is also having an incredibly disappointing year by chipping in just 3.6 points per game on abysmal shooting splits.

Two players that immediately come to mind as targets are Justin Holiday and Dennis Schröder, both of which could be obtainable in the right packages. Holiday is currently having one of his best NBA seasons by averaging 10.6 points while shooting 36.2 percent from behind the arc on a career-high seven attempts per game. Schröder would immediately help the Bucks upgrade at the backup point guard position as he is averaging 15.7 points and 4.5 assists per game this season. Both are reasonable targets to give the Bucks a scoring boost off the bench, and Horst should kick the tires on either player.