The Milwaukee Bucks’ midseason additions are showing their importance
By Dalton Sell
Jevon Carter has proven to be a pleasant surprise for the Milwaukee Bucks
When the Milwaukee Bucks signed Jevon Carter late last month, many viewed it as a stopgap to their backup point guard predicament. With George Hill sidelined due to lingering neck soreness, the Bucks desperately needed a ball-handler in the second unit, which led to them signing Carter off the buyout market, as he would give them some temporary assistance. However, not only has the guard helped as the team dealt with various injuries, but he has carved out a legitimate role for himself with some stellar playing following the All-Star break.
The biggest reason for Carter’s success with the Bucks has been his play on the offensive side of the ball. Not known for his scoring or shooting, the 26-year-old has flipped the script entirely in his short time in Milwaukee by averaging a career-high 6.3 points per contest while knocking down an eye-popping 58.8 percent of his 3-point attempts. Given that Carter had shot just 33.1 percent on his triples in 46 games prior to signing with the Bucks this season, this turnaround has been quite impressive, to say the least.
Carter has outright thrived on the offensive end with the Bucks and, just like Ibaka, has done a good chunk of it while playing alongside the Big 3 in hefty minutes. The guard has turned into a reliable perimeter threat for the trio by shooting 7-of-9 (77.8 percent) off passes from Middleton, 5-of-7 (71.4 percent) off passes from Antetokounmpo, and 2-of-5 (40 percent) off passes from Holiday. Carter’s ability to knock down these outside shots in the minutes he plays with the trio has kept him out on the court and has helped fuel the best stretch in his career to date.
While his offense has been great, Carter has not been a slouch defensively either. The guard has brought some much-needed intensity off the bench by picking up opposing ball-handlers the full length of the floor and pestering them. Carter has proven to be a serviceable piece to utilize on the defensive end when Jrue Holiday is off the floor, giving the Bucks another strong defender to take on the assignment of matching up with opposing guards. Having another reputable defender like Carter has been a luxury for coach Budenholzer and will continue to be.
What was initially a signing to add some depth has quickly turned into a massive addition as the 26-year-old Carter has become a hidden gem for the Milwaukee Bucks.