It’s official, the Milwaukee Bucks are healthy (well, mostly). All of the players that began the season on the injury report, Pat Connaughton, Khris Middleton and Joe Ingles have all returned to action, the latest of the three making his team debut Monday night against the New Orleans Pelicans. While Khris Middleton is dealing with some lingering knee soreness that has held him out of the last two games and likely Wednesday’s game against the Cavaliers, the Bucks are the healthiest they’ve been this season. What does that mean for the Bucks?
Firstly, it means that Mike Budenholzer’s job gets easier, adding a former 6th Man of the Year candidate is always beneficial. Secondly, it also means Mike Budenholzer’s job gets harder, finding minutes for all the talented players and savvy veterans the Bucks have while also trying to get young guys experience. Lastly, it means the Milwaukee Bucks are the deepest team in the entire league.
Let’s look at where the Bucks depth chart stands now that everyone is healthy.
Milwaukee Bucks depth chart: Point Guard
Jrue Holiday is locked in at starting point guard for the Milwaukee Bucks and should get at least a little bit of All-Star consideration. Holiday has played fantastic defense, even going so far as to guard Zion Williamson in the Bucks’ win in New Orleans on Monday. Jrue is also playing some pretty good offense as well, averaging 19.2 points on 45.9 percent field goal shooting and 36.4 percent behind the 3-point line and a career high 90.2 percent at the free throw line. That 90.2 percent mark is Jrue Holiday’s highest since the 2015-16 season when he made 84.3 percent.
In addition to his scoring, Jrue is also averaging 7.6 assists, 5.2 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game.
Backing up Jrue Holiday is the ever pesky Jevon Carter, who is having a career year himself, averaging a career high in minutes, points, assists, rebounds, blocks, steals, field goal percentage and 3-point percentage.
The Milwaukee Bucks also have a pretty consistent insurance policy in George Hill, who despite some of the fanbase still being sour on has been pretty solid for the Bucks this year.
Milwaukee Bucks depth chart: Shooting guard
When Khris Middleton returned to the starting lineup, Mike Budenholzer opted to keep the Milwaukee Bucks’ best traditional shooting guard, Grayson Allen as the starter and move Jevon Carter to the bench. Grayson Allen has had some ups and downs this season but overall has played well and has likely given the front office some second thoughts about trading him.
Grayson Allen in his last four games shot 17-for-28 from the field (61 percent) averaging just shy of 10 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game while turning the ball over just three times total. I still believe the Bucks could use Grayson Allen similarly to how the Jazz use Jordan Clarkson and it showed during their face off on Saturday. Both players scored 13 points, Grayson on 6-of-9 field goals, grabbed four rebounds, dished four assists, snagged a steal and only turned the ball over once. Clarkson scored his 13 on 5-of-10 shooting, had just one rebound, three assists, also one steal plus three turnovers.
Behind Grayson Allen at shooting guard the Bucks have Pat Connaughton, who has improved over his last few games as well, his health and conditioning are beginning to reach mid-season form.
After that at shooting guard the Bucks use Wesley Matthews defensively and sometimes Jordan Nwora when guys are out or the Bucks have a big lead. Nwora is likely the player to see the biggest slash in playing time with Joe Ingles healthy.
The Bucks do also have AJ Green on a two-way contract at shooting guard.
All things considered, shooting guard might be the only position the Bucks could focus on searching for an upgrade in the trade market.
Milwaukee Bucks depth chart: Small Forward
By the end of the calendar year this position will probably be fully solidified, Khris Middleton is the Bucks starting small forward when healthy, he was listed out the last two games with knee soreness and is listed as doubtful for Wednesday in Cleveland. However, that doubtful designation does represent an upgrade from just being labeled out, so maybe Middleton returns to the lineup Friday in Brooklyn and then can play Sunday against the Celtics, a team in which he is part owner of, especially in the playoffs, which that game is likely to have an atmosphere of on Christmas.
After Khris Middleton the Milwaukee Bucks have a ton of options at small forward, they can and will use Pat Connaughton and Jordan Nwora, Budenholzer has started rookie MarJon Beauchamp, who in my opinion should be the backup small forward to Middleton, or can and will at times go massive and use Giannis Antetokounmpo and Joe Ingles when both Bobby Portis and Brook Lopez are on the floor.
Small forward is easily the Milwaukee Bucks’ most fluid, versatile position on the team with nearly two thirds of the lineup able to occupy the position depending on what lineups are on the floor.
Milwaukee Bucks depth chart: Power Forward
Moving the the Milwaukee Bucks’ frontcourt the Milwaukee Bucks depth chart continues to show why it is the deepest roster in the NBA. Starting with MVP candidate Giannis Antetokounmpo, Giannis has been near unstoppable this season, punctuating that point is his performance against the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday night. Giannis poured in 42 points on just 17 shots, of which he made 12. Also, Giannis may have his free throw situation figured out *knocks on wood*, Giannis made 17-of-22 free throws against the Pelicans. Since the calendar changed to December, Giannis has made a serviceable 70 percent of his free throws.
Backing up Giannis at power forward is the now healthy Joe Ingles, who will likely play alongside Giannis often to utilize Ingles’ ability to handle the ball in the pick and roll and essentially run it the same way Giannis and Khris Middleton do. Having a player that is always a threat to shoot and can make tough passes in the pick and roll creates havoc for opponents to defend and now the Bucks have two guys to create that havoc, three if you include Jrue Holiday.
Also at power forward Bobby Portis could be added in, though he spends most of his time at center with Brook Lopez not in the game but the two do play alongside each other a fair amount.
Milwaukee Bucks depth chart: Center
Finally, the big men in the middle, led by Defensive Player of the Year candidate (frontrunner in my opinion) Brook Lopez. Brook Lopez still leads the NBA in blocks per game at 2.7, where the differentiation comes in on why I believe Brook deserves to be the frontrunner for DPOY is contested shots. Brook Lopez has contested the most shots in the NBA this year by a wide enough margin to drive several school busses through and have room to fit Fiserv Forum in the middle.
Brook Lopez has contested 451 two-point shots this season, an impressive number on its own and leading the league. Second place Ivica Zubac has contested 306 in one more game! Brook Lopez has contested 145 more shots in one fewer game! That’s absolutely absurd.
Brook has been no slouch offensively either, Lopez is currently shooting a career high 39.5 percent behind the 3-point line and on Monday put up his first 30 point game since game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Atlanta Hawks during the Bucks championship run.
Behind Brook Lopez is double double machine Bobby Portis. Portis has 17 double doubles this season, thoroughly impressive for a guy coming off the bench. Bobby is certainly a candidate for 6th Man of the Year.
After Brook and Bobby, the Bucks have veteran Serge Ibaka who missed a couple weeks with an illness and two-way player Sandro Mamukelashvili who always brings energy when Mike Budenholzer calls his name.
As the roster stands, the Milwaukee Bucks depth chart stands against any in the entire NBA as the deepest roster in the league.