Score-first guards who don't make much of an impact elsewhere are quickly becoming obsolete in today's NBA, at least value-wise. Just ask Cam Thomas, who returned to the Brooklyn Nets via his one-year qualifying offer worth $6 million after negotiations for a larger deal went nowhere over the last few months.
Thomas has emerged as a legitimate scoring threat over the last two seasons, averaging 22.9 points per game in that timeframe. However, that's really all he's known for. He certainly isn't turning heads with his play defensively. As evidenced by teams like the OKC Thunder and Indiana Pacers, players who can make an impact beyond just scoring are beyond crucial. That's the recipe to win these days.
Primed for a larger role this coming season, Kevin Porter Jr. must make sure he's not just scoring the basketball for the Milwaukee Bucks.
Bucks need more than just buckets from KPJ
It would be fantastic if Kevin Porter Jr. averaged over 20 points per game for Milwaukee next season. If Doc Rivers trusts him, it's more than possible he could do so. However, if he truly wants to take his game to another level, he must also grow in other areas. That means playing stout defense. It means finding open teammates for passes. He'll have to dive for loose balls. The list goes on and on.
The days of guards just being able to score are over. If they can't break out of that shell, they very well may get left behind entirely.
Kevin Porter Jr. is well aware of all of this. He certainly knows it could alter his NBA future after signing a cheap deal with the Milwaukee Bucks this past summer. While winning is the ultimate goal, no one can fault him for also eyeing a bigger payday next year. Doing so starts with Porter proving he can be more than just a go-to scorer, whether that's off the bench or in a starting role.
Luckily for him, Porter rebounds, passes, and defends better than Thomas, giving him the tools he needs to not follow the same path. The Milwaukee Bucks will need him to attack the glass, switch on anyone who wants to challenge him, and orchestrate the offense when Giannis Antetokounmpo needs a breather.
If he can do all of those things, he will set himself up nicely with the Milwaukee Bucks next season. However, if he doesn't, he could still be available around this exact time next year.
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