Milwaukee Bucks: Jordan Nwora’s potential looms before trade deadline

Thus far, Jordan Nwora’s second season with the Milwaukee Bucks has been a roller coaster ride. There have been games he will be featured heavily in the rotation, while others where he failed to log a single minute. When the Bucks have been fully healthy, or as close as humanely possible this season, Nwora has not been a regular in the rotation, which has raised some questions about how he fits into their future plans.

What will the Milwaukee Bucks do with Jordan Nwora as the NBA trade deadline nears?

With the 2022 NBA trade deadline inching closer, some have questioned whether or not the Bucks could consider trading the 23-year-old rather than keep him glued to the sidelines. The potential is front and center with the former second round pick, as he has shown glimpses of elite scoring and shooting in brief stints with the Bucks. In two years since being drafted by Milwaukee, Nwora has averaged 7.3 points on .427/.397/.750 shooting splits, 3.1 rebounds, and 0.7 assists per game.

While Nwora’s numbers with the Bucks are solid, it is clear that there is more potential waiting to be unearthed there. Perhaps Spotrac and CelticsBlog contributor Keith Smith worded it best with his recent tweet where he detailed his thoughts on the sophomore forward.

Smith certainly has a point. When he has played, Nwora has shown signs that he could be a legit double-digit scorer in the league with consistent minutes. However, those minutes are not there with the Bucks, given the team’s reliance on veteran pieces and Nwora’s occasional self-inflicted slip-ups, whether it be with his defense or turnovers.

What Nwora truly needs is an environment where he could see a prominent role nightly, not just occasionally, to continue his development. Right now, he is learning from a great group with the defending champions in a stellar situation, but he is not getting meaningful game reps. Instead, he is seeing significant time down in the G-League with the Wisconsin Herd. Nwora needs a shot in the NBA where he could see significant time to unlock his true potential.

The entire Nwora situation is eerily similar to what transpired with former Buck Christian Wood a few seasons ago. Wood appeared in 13 games in Milwaukee during the 2018-19 season, but the big man played just 4.8 minutes per game. When he played with the G-League, Wood was stellar, and it was clear that the Bucks had something special in him. However, they ultimately let him go, and he immediately turned into a star with a bigger opportunity. In the last three full seasons since Wood left Milwaukee, he has averaged 19.2 points, 10 rebounds, two assists, and a block in 31.6 minutes per contest.

The Bucks do not want another Wood situation on their hands. Nwora has the potential to develop into something special, but the question remains whether or not he will get the chance to do so in Milwaukee. There are a handful of opposing teams that would love to get their hands on him with the trade deadline coming up to offer him that opportunity, but it remains unknown how strongly the Bucks feel about him. They very well may want to keep him around for the long haul and try to unearth that potential themselves, rather than dealing him elsewhere and having it come back to bite them. Either way, it is a fascinating situation with the deadline coming up.

Keep an eye on the Bucks and Nwora leading up to February 10.