After coming up short in the Goran Dragic buyout sweepstakes following the 2022 trade deadline, the Milwaukee Bucks pivoted elsewhere. They ended up signing Jevon Carter, who was waived by the Brooklyn Nets to make room for Dragic. Given that Carter was not a household name and that the Bucks lost out on what many would consider the best buyout target of the year, not too many fans batted an eye at the move. However, Carter has quickly changed that perception among fans as he has played some solid basketball since coming aboard.
With that said, let us look at a few reasons why Carter has fit in so well with the Bucks and why he may end up playing a key role for them down the road.
No. 1 – Jevon Carter has given the short-handed Milwaukee Bucks more depth, getting the most playing time in his NBA career to date
The biggest reason why the Bucks signed Carter in the first place was because they needed some assistance in the backcourt. George Hill, Milwaukee’s veteran backup point guard, has been out of the lineup since January 28 with neck soreness, and there is still no timetable for his return. Guard Pat Connaughton has also been sidelined for several weeks after he underwent surgery to repair a fractured right fourth metacarpal. With two contributors in the second unit out, Carter has stepped into his new role effortlessly, helping the Bucks tremendously over his first few appearances.
Over his seven games with the Bucks thus far, Carter is averaging 17 minutes per matchup, which would be a career-high for the fourth-year guard. Coach Mike Budenholzer gave Carter a clear-cut role from the moment he touched down in Milwaukee, and the 26-year-old has taken advantage of the opportunity. An extended opportunity in the rotation can oftentimes work wonders for any player, and that is precisely what has happened with Carter early on. While there are questions as to where Carter may fit as the Bucks get healthier, that is something that can be addressed down the road, as the energetic point guard has helped mightily over these past seven games.
With the Bucks, Carter has seen a more prominent role than ever before, and he is making the most of the opportunity.
No. 2 – Jevon Carter has given the Milwaukee Bucks defense and intensity in the short-handed second unit
Since coming into the league as a second round pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, Jevon Carter has been known for his robust defense. His intensity on that side of the basketball has helped him earn his minutes at every stop of his career to this point, and it has helped him quickly get adjusted to this new environment in Milwaukee, as the defensive-minded Bucks have utilized him heavily.
Carter has often been tasked with guarding one of the opposing team’s top players when he is on the floor, and he has done an admirable job so far. While matchup stats are not everything, Carter has eye-catching stats against some household names this season. According to NBA.com/stats, the defensive ace held Trae Young scoreless on 0-of-3 shooting, Terry Rozier to seven points on a subpar 3-of-7 from the floor, and Zach LaVine to two points on 1-of-4 shooting in recent games, to list a few. The guard is more than capable of taking on top-notch assignments, which has been a massive boost for the Bucks without two solid defenders in Connaughton and Hill available.
Following a recent win over the Charlotte Hornets, Carter spoke to the media and talked about the Bucks’ defensive intensity along with how he has enjoyed playing with them because of it.
"“Man, it’s fun. I was telling the guys, I was like, ‘I haven’t played this hard in I don’t know how long,’ you know what I’m saying? Just being out there with a team that’s locked in defensively, for me it’s just fun to be a part of honestly. That’s really all I can say, I’m just having fun.”"
It certainly appears that Carter is having fun out on the floor whenever he is picking up opposing players full-court and playing pestering defense. Like Bobby Portis takes pride in his rebounding, Carter just gives it his all whenever he is on the defensive side of the basketball. Given how much the Bucks are built on their defense, Carter’s presence on that end of the floor may earn him a spot in the rotation even when the team is close to full strength.
No. 3 – Jevon Carter has been shooting the lights out with the Milwaukee Bucks, producing at a career-high level
In addition to defense, one common attribute that the Bucks look for in most of their players is a 3-point shot. In 46 games with Brooklyn this year, Carter was having the least-efficient shooting season of his career from distance by knocking down just 33.1 percent on 2.8 attempts per game, meaning that Milwaukee would be banking more on his defense than his floor spacing. However, Carter’s outside shooting has proven to be a pleasant surprise as he is hitting 52.7 percent of his triples on 2.7 attempts on average in his first seven games with the Milwaukee Bucks.
This sweet shooting has been an added bonus along with Carter’s defense, allowing him to make an impact on both sides of the court, especially alongside Milwaukee’s starters. A sizeable portion of Carter’s 3-point production has come when he is playing alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo or Khris Middleton, as the point guard is shooting 5-of-7 from deep off passes from Middleton and 3-of-4 off passes from Antetokounmpo. His ability to capitalize on looks created by Milwaukee’s stars has been welcoming, and hopefully Carter can continue to do so.
Considering the Bucks’ bench ranks 17th in 3-point percentage this season and they have been without one of their best shooters in Connaughton lately, Carter has been a tremendous addition to the bench unit. While it comes in a small sample size of 19 attempts throughout seven games, Carter has been a fantastic fit with the Bucks offensively. If he can continue to let it fly with these results or something similar, he would almost certainly become a staple in the rotation regardless of who is available.
Stay tuned to find out how Jevon Carter continues progressing with the Milwaukee Bucks and if he can become a potential wild card for the defending NBA champs.