3 Areas the Milwaukee Bucks improved this off-season, 1 that regressed

After officially signing TyTy Washington to a two-way contract, the Milwaukee Bucks roster is now set at 18 players, including 15 standard contracts and three two-ways.

Barring a trade, this is likely the roster that the Bucks will roll into the 2023-24 NBA season with. While not much has changed with the core of the roster, as the team opted to bring back the duo of Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez, there have been some noticeable changes made to the team when looking at the supporting cast, for better or worse.

An area the Milwaukee Bucks improved: Youth

Did you hear that the Milwaukee Bucks had the oldest roster in the NBA last season? If you were at all present on the platform known as Twitter this past season, you probably did. Though it was an experienced group, the Bucks’ experience did not matter phase the Miami Heat in the playoffs, who were much more youthful and athletic, which was a major advantage.

The front office understood that this team needed to get younger, and they wasted no time when it came to overturning every rock. Through the 2023 NBA Draft, they added Andre Jackson Jr. and Chris Livingston in the second round, while Omari Moore was an undrafted free agent. A.J. Green and TyTy Washington were very nice free agent signings for the team.

An interesting stat about the Bucks is that the roster currently has five players born after 2000; last season, they had just one player who fit the mold (MarJon Beauchamp). It’s clear that there was a desperate need for some younger bodies in the rotation, and management did a great job of stocking up on them via several different avenues.

Adding youth doesn’t guarantee more success, but it’s a breath of fresh air to see the Bucks bring in some young players rather than just relying on veterans. These young players will be energetic and eager to make an impact while also having fresher legs. They will also bring more athleticism and spryness to Milwaukee, which, of course, the team lacked mightily last season.

If any of these players could develop into meaningful contributors, it would be a huge boost for Milwaukee due to their limited assets to improve the roster otherwise.

An area the Milwaukee Bucks improved: Wings above 6-foot-5

It was clear that the Milwaukee Bucks needed more wings this off-season, especially ones taller than 6-foot-5. For the past few years, Milwaukee’s lack of taller wings has been a major reason for their playoff shortcomings, as teams have taken advantage of the 6-foot-5 and under Bucks. Now, the Bucks have three new wings above 6-foot-5 who could possibly help right away.

Of the three, Andre Jackson Jr. can help the team the most. He was a stellar defender in college, and the Bucks will certainly look to get him involved on that side of things. Rather than trotting out a much smaller defender, Jackson has the height and length to actually be a match for some tough scoring wings above 6-foot-5. On top of that, he brings more playmaking and facilitating.

Chris Livingston checks off the box as another 6-foot-6 defender, but he could be used to defend bigger players, as he weighs in at 220 lbs. With Wesley Matthews gone, the Bucks will need to get a sturdy wing defender to match up with big, physical players. No one would expect Livingston to come in and replicate Matthews entirely, but he could undeniably help try to fill the void.

While he will be limited in terms of how many games he can play due to being on a two-way deal, Omari Moore could get some burn as well. The 6-foot-6 wing could provide a solid scoring punch off of the bench while also bringing some ball-handling. With the Bucks not having a backup point guard, getting another facilitator from a two-way player could help mightily.

Of course, it should also help that the Bucks are expected to play sophomore MarJon Beauchamp more this coming season. His scoring can be inconsistent, but Beauchamp can provide a massive boost when it comes to athletic wings who can bring a dose of energy. After scarcely playing last season, he should be hungry to get on the court with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2023-24.

An area the Milwaukee Bucks improved: Versatility

One of the big reasons why the Bucks won it all in 2021 was the versatility of the roster. They had a handful of solid players who allowed for different lineup combinations. However, they’ve lacked the personnel for that type of success over the past two seasons. This off-season, they went out and got a mixture of different players with different skill sets who could help in certain scenarios.

First and foremost, they’re more versatile defensively. As highlighted previously, both Jackson and Livingston can be big-wing defenders. Their 6-foot-6 stature would allow them to play and defend a multitude of positions. Their athleticism and fresh legs will also be huge, as that’s something the team has lacked in recent memory, as mentioned.

Andre Jackson Jr. could also make for some interesting lineup combinations due to his ability to be a point forward. Rather than potentially rolling out an undersized backup point guard who would get targeted defensively, Jackson could play the role of a 6-foot-6 wing who is a stout defender. Again, he has the potential to be a major piece for the Bucks, and versatility is a big reason why.

In his second year with the team, Jae Crowder should also be better. Last season, he was coming off of not playing all season and then dealt with an injury. Knowing where he will play this season, Crowder should play more like the player the Bucks hoped they were getting last year. When they want to go to their small lineups, Crowder could be the perfect small-ball power forward.

Malik Beasley could also bring some more offensive firepower. When the Bucks go small, he may be a useful piece due to his excellent outside shooting, which would aid Giannis Antetokounmpo. He’s not the greatest defender, but he’s another wing – though not 6-foot-6 – who brings a huge boost to the mix in a certain regard. In this case, it’s more perimeter shooting.

Adrian Griffin will have plenty of options when mapping out his lineup combinations when facing different situations on a nightly basis.

An area the Milwaukee Bucks regressed in: Backup point guard

While the Milwaukee Bucks did get better this off-season, one major hole on the roster is the lack of a clear-cut backup point guard. Jevon Carter inked a deal with the Chicago Bulls, and the Bucks never replaced him. It’s been highlighted a bit that the Bucks have a few players who can handle the ball in this role, but there is no guarantee that they can be the clear-cut backup point guard.

The closest thing the team currently has to a pure backup point guard comes from two of their two-way slots in Lindell Wigginton and TyTy Washington. While both players could see time for the Bucks due to their need for more ball-handling, neither will likely have an overly prominent role. They could be used in spurts, but not consistently, like most two-way players.

Andre Jackson Jr. and Grayson Allen are likely going to take on some facilitating responsibilities for the Bucks. As mentioned with Jackson, that won’t be too much of a problem, but he may endure a few growing pains. Allen took strides as a facilitator last season, but he’s far from a natural point guard, so he won’t be relied on too heavily in that regard.

Ultimately, it’ll be interesting to see how the team goes about the loss of Jevon Carter and uses their backup ball-handler, whichever Milwaukee Buck it will be.

Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis.