Among the top priorities for the Milwaukee Bucks this coming offseason should be upgrading at the backup point guard position for the long haul.
For the past two seasons, the Bucks have not had much stability at the position, cycling through a handful of names like D.J. Augustin, Jeff Teague, and George Hill. The role was occupied by Hill this past season, and he did not quite bring the boost that the Bucks had hoped for when they signed him to a two-year deal last offseason. Hill had arguably his worst season as a professional to date, and it is not controversial to say that the Bucks should look to upgrade at the position this coming offseason, given the abundance of options that could be available. With all of that being said, here are three backup point guards the Milwaukee Bucks should make a run at.
The Milwaukee Bucks could target Jevon Carter in 2022 NBA Free Agency
Jevon Carter seems like the obvious choice to be the Milwaukee Bucks’ backup point guard to start the 2022-23 NBA season.
The 26-year-old guard signed with the Bucks through the buyout market last season to give them some depth while Hill was on the sidelines with injury. After initially being viewed as nothing more than a temporary backup floor general, Carter quickly exceeded expectations as he gave the Bucks a significant boost on both ends of the floor. Defensively, Carter hounded opposing guards nightly, oftentimes picking them up the full length of the floor. While the Bucks may have expected stellar defense from Carter, given his reputation on that end, they could not have predicted just how well he would fit in offensively, having averaged 5.6 points per game while shooting 50.6 percent from the floor and a scorching 55.8 percent from 3-point territory, all of which were new career-highs.
Carter proved during the final half of the 2021-22 season that he fit like a glove with the Bucks as he played the best basketball of his NBA career. Due to how well he played and how seamlessly he fit in with Milwaukee’s other stars, bringing him back should be a no-brainer as Carter prepares to hit unrestricted free agency. Carter will undoubtedly not command a hefty amount on the market, which makes his fit with the Bucks even more ideal, given their well-known financial limitations. If the 26-year-old is willing to come back on a minimum, he could be the perfect backup point guard off Milwaukee’s bench due to his scoring, shooting, defense, and intensity on a nightly basis. They would be foolish to let him walk in free agency while keeping Hill on the roster.
The Milwaukee Bucks could target Kennedy Chandler in the 2022 NBA Draft
For the first time in a long time, the Milwaukee Bucks are set to have a first round pick, and they could look to put it to good use by potentially drafting a young backup point guard.
Among the options in this star-studded class, the recurring name that continues to be attached to the Bucks in mock drafts is Kennedy Chandler. The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor has the Bucks picking Chandler with the 24th pick in his latest mock, and he makes a compelling case for them to make that a reality, highlighting the guard’s ball-handling and playmaking. These were two major issues that plagued the Bucks in the playoffs once Khris Middleton went down, as they could not rely too heavily on Hill to take on much of the workload. Adding someone like Chandler could help alleviate those concerns and prevent them from resurfacing down the line.
In addition to just simply being a solid backup point guard, Chandler checks off several boxes that suggest he would be a perfect fit with the Milwaukee Bucks. During his lone collegiate season as a member of the Tennesee Volunteers, Chandler shot a reputable 38.3 percent from 3-point land on 3.8 attempts per contest, which is something that should captivate the Bucks, given their reliance on that particular shot. As noted by O’Connor, the guard is also a pest on the defensive side of the basketball, having averaged 2.2 steals per game with the Volunteers last season. Youth is also an important factor for the Bucks this offseason as they need to add some long-term building blocks rather than constantly rely too heavily on seasoned veterans. At 19-years-old, Chandler fits that description, and he would be able to learn from one of the best in the business in Jrue Holiday.
If the Milwaukee Bucks ultimately do keep their 2022 first rounder, selecting Chandler to give the franchise a long-term option at the backup point guard position would not be a bad move.
The Milwaukee Bucks could target Dennis Schroder in 2022 NBA Free Agency
Circling back to NBA free agency, it would not be surprising to see the Milwaukee Bucks linked to Dennis Schroder as they potentially survey their backup point guard options.
The Bucks were connected to Schroder leading up to the trade deadline this past season when he was a member of the Boston Celtics. Despite some serious trade talks involving Donte DiVincenzo, the Celtics ultimately traded Schroder to the Houston Rockets and that was that. Well, Schroder is now set to be an unrestricted free agent this offseason, and perhaps the Bucks could pick up right where they left off at the deadline and make a run at him, as the 28-year-old could solve some of their problems on impact. On the surface, Schroder would give the Bucks a backup point guard to replace Hill that is much younger and can contribute more often on the offensive side of things.
First and foremost, Schroder would help bulk up Milwaukee’s bench scoring, which was a sizeable issue this past season from start to finish. The Bucks averaged just 27.8 bench points per contest in the regular season, which ranked 27th in the association, according to NBA.com/stats. A portion of these issues could be attributed to Hill’s lackluster scoring efforts, as he managed to score just 6.2 points per contest, the second-fewest in his career. Schroder would help improve the second unit’s scoring numbers mightily as he has averaged 16 points per game over the last three years, having finished as a Sixth Man of the Year finalist in 2019-20. The Bucks need a point guard that can give them instant offense off the bench, and Schroder certainly fits the billing.
If Schroder is testing the free agent waters and is willing to accept a team-friendly deal, the Bucks should pounce on the chance to bring him in. His scoring and ball-handling off the bench are just what this Milwaukee team needs, and he would be a significant addition.
Stay tuned to see how the Milwaukee Bucks handle their backup point guard concerns.