As the Milwaukee Bucks gear up for the rapidly approaching 2022-23 NBA season, it is time to assess some potential wild card candidates on the roster.
Looking at Milwaukee’s roster, there is certainly no shortage of talent in tow. They have one of the best trios in all of basketball, as well as a great supporting cast headlined by household names like Bobby Portis, Brook Lopez, Grayson Allen, and others. While the Bucks have a better idea of what they will get from the players at the front of the rotation, there are some wild cards deeper in the mix who could have a major impact if they get playing time next season. There are several reasons why the players at hand could be viewed as a wild card, including age, experience, playing time, role, or injury status heading into next season. With that said, let us look at a few potential players who could be categorized as wild cards for the Bucks in 2022-23.
MarJon Beauchamp could be a wild card for the Milwaukee Bucks during the 2022-23 NBA season
After they selected him 24th overall in the 2022 NBA Draft, the Milwaukee Bucks have not been shy about how high they are on MarJon Beauchamp. The front office, especially general manager Jon Horst, have been vocal about their faith in the 21-year-old wing, having expressed belief that he could be a key contributor from day one next season. If they are proven right, Beauchamp could certainly be on breakout watch throughout his rookie campaign.
On paper, Beauchamp checks off several boxes for the Bucks. Defensively, it is not controversial to say that the 6-foot-6 wing is an incredibly versatile defender who can match up against a handful of different positions. After failing to slow down both Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown against the Boston Celtics in the playoffs, the Bucks were in the market for a lengthy wing who could take on those top-tier assignments defensively, and Beauchamp could help. There are some questions regarding how the 21-year-old’s game offensively will translate to the NBA. If Beauchamp can knock down his 3-pointers with consistency and find success attacking inside, he will have a much easier time getting acquainted with this Milwaukee system.
While Beauchamp fits in well with the Bucks, the biggest question is how sizeable of a role he will play with them during his first season. The rookie will undoubtedly have to earn his playing time in Milwaukee, but many have argued that the Bucks should throw Beauchamp into the fire from day one and let him play hefty minutes to accelerate his development, which is a justifiable argument. If he is given those significant minutes, Beachamp could make an immediate impact as a rookie, which could even potentially help him earn All-Rookie honors. Then again, there could be some growing pains along the way for the youngster, as there tend to be with most rookies. There is no denying that Beauchamp has some potential waiting to be unearthed in Milwaukee regardless.
Only time will tell if Milwaukee’s first selection in the first round since 2018 gets the chance to play meaningful minutes and if he can fill some of the gaps on the roster.
Jevon Carter could be a wild card for the Milwaukee Bucks during the 2022-23 NBA season
After being waived by the Brooklyn Nets in February of last season, Jevon Carter signed a deal to play out the rest of the campaign with the Milwaukee Bucks. It was a fine move initially, but the guard caught some attention quickly as he played some outstanding basketball with the Bucks. Carter put up the best numbers of his career during the final portion of last season, and his strong play to close the year made it an easy decision for the team to re-sign him this past offseason. If the 27-year-old gets some legitimate minutes next season, he could be even better.
While it came in a small sample size of 20 regular season games, Carter showed that he could be the perfect backup point guard for the Bucks. He brought intensity on the defensive end after coming aboard, having picked up opposing ball-handlers the full length of the court on a nightly basis. Carter also provided some impressive outside shooting as he buried an eye-catching 55.8 percent of his 3-pointers in that same timeframe. The 26-year-old guard was a perfect fit when he shared the floor alongside Milwaukee’s core pieces in Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jrue Holiday, and others, which helped him find success when given the opportunity last season.
If given legitimate rotational minutes next season, Carter could potentially build off the success that he had with the Bucks last season. To get those minutes, Carter will have to earn the job as Milwaukee’s backup point guard. Of course, George Hill was the team’s backup floor general last season, and he put together arguably the worst season of his career, but he was given significant minutes in the playoffs while Carter was glued to the sidelines. Carter and Hill both remain on Milwaukee’s roster, and there could be a battle for the backup point guard job throughout training camp. If Carter wins the job, he could have a big season and be a major contributor to the Bucks.
The question at hand is whether or not Carter will see playing time this season or if he will be kept on the bench like he was down the stretch in 2021-22, having the entire regular season to gain rapport with his teammates and coaches should help his case.
Joe Ingles could be a wild card for the Milwaukee Bucks during the 2022-23 NBA season
Aside from re-signing Bobby Portis, the Milwaukee Bucks’ big move in free agency was signing veteran sharpshooter Joe Ingles. Despite Ingles tearing his ACL last season, the Bucks appear to be confident in the forward’s ability to perform once he is cleared to return as they inked him to a one-year deal worth $6.5 million. Given that Ingles is coming off this significant injury and will be 35 years old shortly, many have questioned the move, which is understandable. However, there is another side to the coin where Ingles could be a significant mid-season addition to Milwaukee’s rotation next season.
When healthy, Ingles was an incredibly reliable bench contributor with the Utah Jazz throughout his entire career. Across his eight seasons thus far, Ingles has primarily been known for his lethal marksmanship, having shot 40.8 percent from 3-point land on 4.4 attempts per game. Of course, the Bucks prioritize their outside shooting, so Ingles could provide some assistance in that regard. He could also give the team another ball-handler and facilitator off the bench, having averaged an eye-catching 3.8 assists per contest for his career. There were too many instances last year when the Bucks needed another ball-handler in the second unit, and Ingles should help with that.
While Ingles may not help strengthen the defense, especially coming off an ACL injury, the Bucks do not need him to be elite on that side of the court. This move was clearly about adding one of the league’s most experienced bench players who can provide more shooting and playmaking when called upon. In the postseason, those two attributes could be incredibly valuable for the Bucks, and if Ingles is back to being who he was before his injury, the 2020-21 Sixth Man of the Year runner-up could be a potential difference-maker. The only question is which version of Ingles the Bucks will get when he ultimately is ready to hit the hardwood at some point next season.
Stay tuned to see how these three perform for the Milwaukee Bucks during the 2022-23 season.