After it was clearly an issue throughout the entirety of this past season, the backup point guard position is something that the Milwaukee Bucks must address this offseason.
George Hill just had arguably his worst season to date, and although his struggles are not solely to blame for Milwaukee’s playoff exit, he certainly did not do much to help. As Milwaukee prepares to retool this offseason, finding an upgrade at the backup point guard position should be among their top priorities, and there are several names worth considering. One candidate that could be worth targeting is Dennis Schroder, a quality role player that the Bucks did kick the tires on acquiring this past season prior to the NBA trade deadline.
Why the Milwaukee Bucks should reignite their interest in Dennis Schroder
While it is unclear how serious the talks ever got, the Milwaukee Bucks and Boston Celtics had discussed a deal that would have seen the reigning champs land Schroder. It was reported that Donte DiVincenzo’s name was floated around in trade discussions, but any hope of a deal was eradicated when the Bucks sent DiVincenzo to the Sacramento Kings and Schroder was dealt to the Houston Rockets. Now, after a short stint in Houston, Schroder is set to hit unrestricted free agency, and Milwaukee could look to add the guard via a different avenue this time around.
One of the biggest issues for the Bucks this past season, particularly in the postseason, was their lack of scoring efforts from their second unit. Milwaukee’s bench ranked 27th in points per game during the regular season, according to NBA.com/stats, and the issue was on full display over the team’s 12 playoff games as this group failed to contribute for the most part. Adding a solid scorer to this bench should be a priority for the Bucks this offseason, and being able to do so while also upgrading at the backup point guard position with someone like Schroder would be like killing two birds with one stone.
Schroder has primarily transitioned to a bench role over the past four seasons, and he has had his share of success there by averaging 15.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game. That also includes when he averaged 18.9 points per game during the 2019-20 NBA season and finished as the runner-up for Sixth Man of the Year. The guard can flat out score the basketball, and that could make him the perfect fit for the Bucks as they look to strengthen their bench. Schroder would give them the boost they need to bulk up those lackluster second unit scoring numbers while serving as a reputable backup ball-handler behind Jrue Holiday.
Due to their previous interest in Schroder and the glaring issue with Hill, it would not be shocking to see the Bucks linked to the guard in free agency. The two sides have been connected in rumors frequently over the past several years, and more are seemingly bound to come. Schroder could be an affordable target for the cash-strapped Milwaukee Bucks, and with the opportunity to patch up one of their most prominent flaws, they should be monitoring him closely this coming offseason.
Stay tuned to see whether or not the Milwaukee Bucks’ interest in Dennis Schroder rekindles.