Over the last several seasons, the Milwaukee Bucks have had a revolving door of names at the backup point guard position.
Several names include George Hill, D.J. Augustin, Jeff Teague, George Hill once again, Jevon Carter, and plenty more. Right now, the Bucks do not even have a clear-cut point guard on their roster as they gear up for the 2023-24 NBA season. While plenty of fans think the team would be wise to target one via trade, the Bucks may just roll with their 15-man roster as is. If so, there are a few players on the roster who could make for interesting backup “point guard” candidates.
Milwaukee Bucks’ backup point guard options – Jazian Gortman
The Bucks picked up Jazian Gortman for their 2023 Summer League outing, and the guard showed some glimpses of potential. Though he didn’t play an overly prominent role, what Gortman put on display was enough for the Bucks to extend a training camp invite his way. In need of a backup, it makes sense for Milwaukee to give Gortman an extended chance to compete for the role.
Gortman is an interesting player. Playing in the Overtime Elite Program this past year, the guard’s numbers were strong, having averaged 13.9 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 2.5 steals per contest. Despite being a tad undersized at 6-foot-2,170lbs, he proved to be a pesky defender at all times. Ironically, he was compared to former Buck Jevon Carter leading up to the draft.
Taking a flyer on Gortman beyond training camp wouldn’t be a bad decision. Under Adrian Griffin, the Bucks seem to be stocking up on youth to develop. The 20-year-old Gortman would cement that notion further while also filling a position of need. Ultimately, it’s up to Gortman to make a strong impression in training camp before any decisions are made.
Milwaukee Bucks’ backup point guard options – Lindell Wigginton
Two attributes that Lindell Wigginton has over any other candidate on this list are experience and familiarity. At 25 years old, Wigginton has experience at this level, and he’s been with Milwaukee for several years now, meaning he has familiarity with most of the players. If the Bucks want him to take on a much larger role next season, the option is certainly there.
While his playing time has always been brief, Wigginton has oftentimes shown glimpses of what he could bring to the table. As he’s shown in the G-League, Wigginton can be an excellent scorer and facilitator, having averaged 22.3 points and six assists this past season. Of course, translating G-League production to the NBA is difficult, but he’s shown he can do both of those quite well.
It would certainly be a terrific story if the Bucks were able to find their new backup point guard of the future from in-house. Yet, though he has an advantage with experience and familiarity, the job is far from solidified for Wigginton. He will have to duke it out with the other candidates listed here in training camp if he wants to potentially break through with the Bucks this coming season.
Milwaukee Bucks’ backup point guard options – Omari Moore
The likelihood of an undrafted rookie on a two-way deal becoming the Milwaukee Bucks’ backup point guard seems slim, but it’s not impossible. In a new interview with The Athletic’s Eric Nehm (Subscription required), GM Jon Horst said that while the team doesn’t have a backup point guard, Omari Moore is someone they feel great about in that regard, meaning he could help.
Moore is far from a traditional point guard, as he’s 6-foot-6 and much more known for his scoring abilities. Yet, he did act as a facilitator quite a bit throughout his four-year stay at San Jose State in college, having averaged 3.7 assists per game – 4.7 in his last two years. If the Bucks want to try and unlock some of that facilitating, they could utilize Omari Moore as the backup ball handler.
There would undeniably be some growing pains if the Bucks threw Moore into this particular role. Yet, they clearly believe the San Jose State product has something to give. If the Bucks indeed can get a boost from one of their two-way players next season, it would help tremendously. Moore is under surveillance and could quickly become a hidden gem find for this Milwaukee Bucks team.
Milwaukee Bucks’ backup point guard options – Andre Jackson Jr.
Although he’s not a traditional point guard, Andre Jackson Jr. is the likeliest candidate among those featured on this list to be the backup ball handler next season. Having traded up to land Jackson in the 2023 NBA Draft, the Bucks clearly liked what they saw in him and could envision him playing a decently sized role next year. With a need for another ball handler, he just might have to.
One of Jackson’s biggest strengths in college was his facilitating. The 6-foot-6 guard handled the ball quite a bit and averaged 3.5 assists per contest in three years at UConn. The Bucks will look to utilize the guard’s passing instincts at the next level and look to get him involved on offense. It will take time for him to get adjusted, but Jackson could play this role rather well.
Even with the need for another ball handler aside, Jackson should be on the floor for the Bucks quite a bit next season, regardless. The Bucks needed more taller wings who can play defense, and Jackson is just that. If he can provide defense while also being that extra facilitator, Jackson could quickly make a name for himself with the Milwaukee Bucks.
For now, the 21-year-old should be favored for the team’s backup ball handler job in 2023-24.
Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis and breakdowns this NBA off-season.