The Bucks had to cut multiple other players - Chris Livingston and Tyler Smith - for Amir Coffey to make the team, but he's quickly proving that was the right decision.
In a key matchup against an Eastern Conference contender in the Knicks, Coffey had a quick eight points off the bench in his 14 minutes of action. This helped the Bucks pull out a close win and showed that he can contribute more than either of the guys who were cut from the team.
Coffey can give the Bucks valuable role player minutes
On paper, Amir Coffey should be capable of playing an important role for the Bucks off the bench. His combination of size and shooting is not found elsewhere on the roster. He can fill in as a forward to supplement the Bucks' rising guard rotation. However, Coffey received few opportunities in the first three games and was not able to capitalize when he was in the game.
On Tuesday night, Coffey got more of a chance and played 14 crucial minutes. He had a couple of nice baskets off feeds from Ryan Rollins and made the most of his time. His shooting splits from the game were 2-of-3 from the field, 1-of-2 from 3-point range, and 3-of-3 from the free throw line (after drawing a foul on a three).
Coffey's microwave scoring gave the Bucks a big boost in a game that was mostly within single digits. His first five points were scored in a flurry of about two minutes after he first checked in, and helped counter a Jalen Brunson takeover in the first quarter.
He also showed his individual talent beyond just long-range shooting (where he was elite in his own right last season). On Coffey's sole 2-point attempt and make, he drove to the mid-range and rose up over the smaller Brunson to drop in a beautiful shot. That's a level of talent that Livingston and Smith just don't have at this point in their careers.
Signing Amir Coffey was all about adding more quality depth for the Bucks. They don't expect him to score 20 points a night or completely change the game, but any contributions he can give them off the bench are extremely valuable.
With Giannis Antetokounmpo still firmly in his prime, the Bucks need reliable players off the bench who can complement Giannis without making costly mistakes. Losing two recent draft picks in Livingston and Smith for nothing definitely hurts, but Coffey is a much better fit for a team that wants to contend for a championship this season.