Assessing very early returns on the Milwaukee Bucks’ newcomers

In their pursuit of more talent, the Milwaukee Bucks have tweaked the roster over the last few weeks to bring in a pair of household names.

Their first move involved trading for Jae Crowder, a player the team had been in pursuit of for a handful of months. Next, they signed Meyers Leonard to a 10-day deal to shore up their center depth. The duo, who were also teammates with the Miami Heat in 2019-20, have now suited up in four games together with the Bucks. While it is still early, it is time to look at those four games and assess the early returns for both of these newcomers.

Assessing very early returns on the Milwaukee Bucks’ newcomers

Across his four appearances with the Bucks thus far, Crowder has been exactly what the team had hoped for when they added him. He’s brought tough defense and perimeter shooting to this bench unit. Crowder is averaging four points, three rebounds, and 1.5 assists in 19.3 minutes per contest. Offensively, he’s shot 8-of-16 from the floor, including 6-of-12 from 3-point range. Two of his hits from deep came in clutch time versus his former team, the Phoenix Suns. On that side of the ball, the Bucks have primarily asked him to be a spot-up shooter, and he has done well.

As for Leonard, he has played a far less significant role for the Bucks, having averaged 6.8 minutes per game thus far. The center has been utilized in brief stints to give Brook Lopez and Bobby Portis breathers. Given his limited minutes, Leonard’s numbers are not off the charts, as he is averaging a mere 2.8 points and two rebounds per game. In his limited action, he has served as a big body in the paint, and while his defense has not been excellent, he has still provided a seven-foot obstacle down low for opposing players to try and score against.

One of the primary reasons Milwaukee signed Leonard was due to his long-distance shooting. A seven-foot big man who can let it fly from distance is hard to find, but Leonard has shot 3-of-7 (42.9 percent) from three thus far. He’s done exactly what the Bucks have asked him to do, and that sweet shooting has helped him get up to speed with his new team rather quickly.

While these two players are quite different on the floor, one thing they have in common is they are each coming off long absences. Crowder is playing his first basketball of the season after opting to sit out until he was traded by the Phoenix Suns. Leonard has been away for nearly two years after undergoing leg surgery and enduring controversy after uttering a slur on a video game live stream. Despite the lengthy time away, both players have looked like they are in excellent shape and have played extremely well in the limited time they have gotten early on.

Both players could be valuable to this team moving forward. Crowder’s role will certainly continue to grow as the season progresses, and it would not be surprising if he ends up in the starting five before the postseason. His defense and 3-point shooting will be pivotal. As for Leonard, his deal is set to expire on March 3, but it would not be surprising to see him get another 10-day or receive a standard deal for the remainder of the season. He’d provided valuable depth at the center position, especially given his ability to shoot the long ball at his size.

Overall, both newcomers have been solid for the Bucks to this point. Again, the sample size is not the largest, but it is very welcoming to see the duo find their footing with the team rather quickly.

Keep an eye on these two newcomers moving forward.