The Milwaukee Bucks had the oldest roster in the NBA this past season, and it came back to bite them in the end as they could not keep up with a younger and more athletic Miami Heat team.
This off-season, the Bucks should look to add a dose of youth to the mix. That does not mean the team should trade away all of their veterans, but rather that they should sprinkle in a few younger players to their rotation. One player already in-house that fits the mold is MarJon Beauchamp, the Bucks’ first round pick in the 2022 NBA Draft.
Beauchamp did not play much during his rookie season, but when he did, he showed signs that he could be a quality player. In a league that is becoming so wing dominant, the Bucks need to get the youngster more involved next season, which means his development this off-season will be vital.
It would be easy to say that Beauchamp needs to study greats like Giannis Antetokounmpo to get better. While Beauchamp should certainly look to get in the gym with Antetokounmpo, let us look at a few other players across the league that the soon-to-be sophomore should look to emulate.
No. 1 – Caleb Martin, Miami Heat
What an incredible run it has been for Caleb Martin. After being cut by the Charlotte Hornets, the forward inked a deal with the Miami Heat, which has taken his career to new heights. Martin was a solid rotational player in the regular season, but he’s turned into a significant contributor during an incredible postseason run by the Heat; Bucks fans know this all too well. Beauchamp could learn a thing or two by analyzing Martin’s game.
Martin is essentially Miami’s Swiss Army Knife, as he does a bit of everything. During this playoff run, his biggest strength has been his scoring and shooting. He’s averaging 12.6 points while also hitting 41.5 percent from behind the arc. Yet, he’s also been a solid facilitator and strong piece on the defensive end, utilizing his 6-foot-5 build to guard multiple positions at a high level. He’s the latest example of how good the Heat are at developing their young players, which is something the Bucks have primarily lacked outside of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton.
Beauchamp checks off a lot of the same boxes as Martin. At 6-foot-6, he’s a lengthy defender who can be switchable and match up with multiple positions. They’re also both extremely athletic and can make major things happen in transition. Martin is a better scorer and outside shooter, but that is a key part of Beauchamp’s game that he can develop. As Martin and the Heat look to capture an NBA title, Beauchamp should keep an eye on the ascending 27-year-old.
No. 2 – O.G. Anunoby, Toronto Raptors
Every team in the league would love to have O.G. Anunoby on their team. There’s a reason there was a bidding war for the forward’s services at the 2023 NBA Trade Deadline. According to ESPN insider Zach Lowe (Subscription required), the Indiana Pacers and Memphis Grizzlies both offered three first round picks for Anunoby, but the Raptors still decided to keep him. He’s certainly one of the major players Beauchamp could learn from as he develops with the Bucks.
Anunoby’s primary appeal comes on the defensive end. He’s a 6-foot-7 forward who is among the most versatile defenders in the business. His defensive resume includes the Steals Champion title in 2022-23 and an All-Defensive selection this past season as well. Along with his savvy defense, Anunoby is also a strong offensive player, having averaged 16.6 points per game while shooting 38.2 percent from behind the arc over the past three seasons. He’s a legitimate two-way threat who is still getting better on both ends at just 25 years old.
If Beauchamp could take even a page out of Anunoby’s development book, it would be significant for the Bucks. The two do share some similarities, such as utilizing their lengthy frames to pester opponents on the defensive end while also being versatile in who they guard nightly. Offensively, Beauchamp is not near Anunoby, but he was not a scorer when he came into the league either, having averaged just 5.9 points during his rookie campaign in 2017-18. Beauchamp could learn a lot from trying to emulate the game of one of the NBA’s best two-way players.
No. 3 – Mikal Bridges, Brooklyn Nets
Like O.G. Anunoby, Mikal Bridges was a hot commodity this past season in a league that is reliant on wings. The Memphis Grizzlies wanted Bridges so bad that they offered the Brooklyn Nets an eye-popping four first rounders for his services, per HoopsHypes Michael Scotto. Brooklyn liked Bridges so much that they turned it down. Bridges is one of the best young wings in the league today, and the Bucks’ soon-to-be sophomore should look to study his game and development.
Bridges is a tremendous talent on both ends of the court. Defensively, the 6-foot-6 wing is one of the best players at his position and can defend anyone. He finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting last season and easily made an All-Defensive team. Bridges has always been a solid offensive player, but he took his game to new heights this season, increasing his scoring average by nearly six points compared to last season. Whether he’s attacking or shooting the long ball, Bridges is a threat on that side of things.
Beauchamp and Bridges share a lot of the same attributes. Ironically, he’s the same height as Beauchamp, but Bridges has a few pounds on him. They’re both lengthy wings who can make things difficult on opponents. Even when he was a rookie, Bridges was a more well-defined offensive player, but he also played a more considerable role. With time and a bigger role, the hope is that Beauchamp could become what Bridges was when he was with the Suns, as he was the team’s go-to-wing defender and a solid scoring option.
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