The Milwaukee Bucks have officially concluded their five-game NBA Summer League showing.
It was a week of hit-or-miss play for the Bucks, who started off red hot by winning their opening two games before dropping three straight. Those five contests gave fans a closer look at some of Milwaukee’s young talent, so let’s break down some of the takeaways involving those players by looking at the tape they provided from Summer League.
No. 1 – Andre Jackson Jr. is fascinating, but he’s understandably got work to do for the Milwaukee Bucks
Having traded up to select him in the 2023 NBA Draft, the Bucks certainly liked Andre Jackson Jr. Everyone was very excited to watch the 36th overall pick in action for the first time while donning a Milwaukee Bucks uniform.
On the positive side, Jackson showed some tremendous potential on both ends. His most notable moment of Summer League was blocking two shots in about 10 seconds vs. the Denver Nuggets, having shown off his incredible athleticism. In addition to his shot-blocking, Jackson showed that he could be a pesky on-ball defender as well by relentlessly hounding his opponents.
Elsewhere, Jackson showed his tenacity on the glass, as the 6-foot-6 wing led the team in boards with 6.4 per game. He displayed a knack for tracking down boards and hauling them in. One of his biggest strengths coming in was his facilitating, which Jackson showcased countless times during this stretch, especially with some spot-on outlet passes to find his man down the court for a score on the other end.
On the negative side, Jackson’s offense was the biggest downside. While it was well-known that his strengths were not prominent on offense, it was a tough week for the wing. He averaged just 5.4 points while shooting 33 percent from the floor and 20 percent from deep. On top of that, he had some trouble taking control of the ball, having notched a team-high 3.6 turnovers per game.
All in all, Jackson showcased some legitimate potential as a second unit wing defender and passer. He’ll have to work on his long-range shooting, as teams will constantly dare him to shoot it at the next level, and his passing accuracy, but both of those were to be expected somewhat. The second rounder has the potential to make his way into Milwaukee’s rotation fairly quickly next season if he can work on improving his game in those areas.
No. 2 – Omari Moore is still an unknown, but he’s an incredibly interesting piece to the Milwaukee Bucks
After going undrafted, Omari Moore inked a two-way deal with the Bucks. He was undoubtedly an under-the-radar name to watch throughout the Summer League for many fans heading in, as they believed the San Jose State product had some legitimate potential. Moore did not play as much as most may have expected, having averaged just 11.6 minutes per outing across the five contests, but he showcased some nice potential in his limited minutes.
Moore’s best game of the Summer League came in Milwaukees’ outing vs. the Sacramento Kings. Logging 25 minutes off of the bench, the forward took advantage of the opportunity by stuffing the stat sheet with seven points, five steals, four rebounds, and two assists. One of the forward’s buckets was a late 3-pointer to keep Milwaukee alive in the game. Yet, his five steals were the big highlight of the game, as Moore showed that he could be a pest on the defensive end.
After seeing that last game, it would have been nice to see Moore play a bit more, especially as he is on a two-way deal. Nevertheless, the wing will be with Milwaukee next season, and the hope is that he can develop into the type of player he showed signs of being in the last game. Moore will likely see prominent time with the Wisconsin Herd next season, and if he excels, he could possibly make his way onto Milwaukee’s full-time roster at some point. He’s got potential to be a very nice two-way wing in this league.
No. 3 – Chris Livingston can have a major impact when he steps on the court for the Milwaukee Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks showcased their faith in Chris Livingston by handing him the largest salary ever for the final pick of a draft. After inking such a lucrative deal, everyone wanted to see what the 19-year-old would play like in the Summer League. As expected with any rookie, there were some struggles for Livingston, but he also showcased some eye-catching potential.
Livingston saved the best for last as he erupted in Milwaukee’s final Summer League matchup for 22 points, five rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Across the five games, he put up 10.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and a steal per game. He showed glimpses of being a strong rebounder and quality defender while also being able to put points on the board, especially in the final game of Summer League, obviously.
On the downside, Livingston struggled mightily to hit his outside shots, having shot 27.3 percent on such attempts. As mentioned in the same section as Jackson, Livingston will have to work on that area of his game to enhance his chances of seeing a prominent role with the Bucks, although he can undeniably help them elsewhere. If he can bring more rebounding and defense to the fold, Livingston could be a nice developmental piece for Milwaukee, whose potential gets unearthed sooner rather than later.
No. 4 – The Milwaukee Bucks have some compelling point guards on their hands
The one glaring hole on the Milwaukee Bucks’ roster right now is the lack of a backup point guard. Milwaukee had quite a few on their Summer League roster, seemingly wanting to get a look at the young talent they have at the position before making any decisions on signing anyone. There was some interesting play by the guards, to say the least.
Lindell Wigginton, who has been with the Bucks for a couple of years now, only played two games, but he left his mark in that time. He averaged 13 points while shooting 53.3 percent from the floor and an eye-popping 71.4 percent from 3-point land. Also, he put up 2.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1.5 steals per game. It was a small sample size, but Wigginton made a strong impression, and with the Bucks looking to find a backup floor general for next season, time will tell if it pays off.
Elsewhere, the trio of Nico Mannion, Jazian Gortman, and Iverson Molinar all had their moments in the Summer League. Mannion was Milwaukee’s starter for several games, and while he struggled to find his shot, he did show signs of being a strong facilitator, averaging 4.3 assists per matchup. Gortman looked like a two-way guard, showcasing an ability to score the ball in a variety of ways while playing tough defense. Molinar put points on the board in minimal minutes, showing off his offensive arsenal from inside the arc.
Out of everyone here, Wigginton would be the best bet to be with the Bucks on the opening night of next season. He’s got familiarity with the team and is more experienced than the rest. Still, even if it’s with the Wisconsin Herd, the Bucks should look to keep some of these other guards around the franchise, as they’ve got potential, especially Gortman.
No. 5 – Inconsistency is still an issue for MarJon Beauchamp, but he showed signs that he could help the Milwaukee Bucks
After playing virtually a non-existent role during his rookie campaign, MarJon Beauchamp has an opportunity to take a major leap in year two. For that reason, fans were excited to watch him take part in the Summer League to get some extra reps. The biggest word to describe his showcase is “inconsistent,” as the young wing had some trouble finding a groove.
Throughout the first two games, he was great. In a great win over the Denver Nuggets, the wing had 23 points and eight rebounds. In game two, he had 20 points and six rebounds. Beauchamp’s potential as a strong two-way wing was right there, but then his production dropped off mightily over the next two games. In the team’s next matchup against the Brooklyn Nets, he finished with zero points, having missed all of his shot attempts. Against the Miami Heat, Beauchamp notched 10 points on 3-of-9 shooting. He did not play in the team’s finale vs. the Sacramento Kings.
The good and the bad were both showcased over Beauchamp’s four-game stretch. There will be some growing pains for the sophomore, but if he wants to maximize his chances of seeing more time with the Bucks next season, he’ll have to work on that. Milwaukee won’t expect him to put up 20-plus points every night, but he’ll have to be smart with his shots and knock them down. When it’s not falling from 3-point land, he has to attack the hoop, which was a strategy that helped get him going in those first two games. Defensively, he looked good, but there’s room to grow.
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