The Milwaukee Bucks have already made plenty of moves this off-season.
Firing Mike Budenholzer, hiring Adrian Griffin, re-signing Khris Middleton, Brook Lopez, and Jae Crowder, drafting Andre Jackson Jr. and Christ Livingston, and signing Malik Beasley and Robin Lopez are all things the team has done.
This looks like a new and improved bench with more youth, athleticism, and shooting. But is it good enough to recapture the same essence of the 2021 team? Sure, that team had a minimal rotation, and an even smaller one once Donte DiVincenzo went down, but they still came out with a ring.
This team offers more depth than that team. But for someone reason, it still feels like there is a piece missing. Let’s look at what exactly the Bucks could use to reclaim the Larry O’Brien Trophy
The Milwaukee Bucks need more playmaking and a backup point guard
The first reason the Bucks should make a move is not having a backup point guard or facilitator.
Unless new rookie Andre Jackson Jr.’s playmaking chops make an immediate impact right out of the gate, the Bucks have no TRUE point guard or playmaker outside of Jrue Holiday. Factor in the loss of backup point guard Jevon Carter and playmaking wing Joe Ingles, and the Bucks are in desperate need of a player that can provide playmaking and ball-handling off the bench. Sure, Khris Middleton and Giannis Antetokounmpo are great ball-handlers that can provide passing, but they can’t be on the court all 48 minutes.
Most of the guards on the roster outside of Jrue Holiday are all 3-point specialists but lack the passing ability and steady hand the Bucks need off their bench. There are plenty of players out there on teams that would be willing to move off of as they have a surplus of guards. Milwaukee should be looking to add one.