3 candidates to consider for the Milwaukee Bucks’ final roster spot
By Dalton Sell
Players the Milwaukee Bucks could consider for final roster spot: Isaiah Thomas
While another wing like Ennis would not hurt, the Bucks could also use a traditional point guard to help with their backcourt injuries. Reserve guard George Hill has been sidelined since January 28th with neck soreness, and coach Budenholer told reporters that he would be out of the lineup for at least another week following the All-Star break. While the Bucks brought Jevon Carter aboard as a backup, he will be utilized more defensively than anything else. In their search for a true backup to help the Bucks stay afloat, one justifiable target is Isaiah Thomas.
In addition to simply needing more depth, the biggest reason the Bucks should kick the tires on Thomas is their need for bench scoring. According to NBA.com/stats, the bench is averaging the 28th-fewest points in the league this season with 26.6 per game. Without Connaughton in the mix, that number has continued to dip, and the Bucks need help. While he is not the lethal scorer that he once was, Thomas has proved recently that he can play by averaging 41.3 points in three appearances with the Grand Rapids Gold in the G-League. Numbers like that are sure to put NBA teams on notice, and the Bucks may be one of them.
The Bucks are on the record with previous interest in Thomas, as The Athletic’s Jon Krawczynski reported last year that they were connected to him in the rumor mill. As they deal with issues at the backup point guard position, perhaps Milwaukee’s previous interest in the multi-time All-Star could be rekindled. As the 15th man on the roster and a short-term answer to the team’s current point guard predicament, signing Thomas would be an incredibly low-risk move for the Bucks.