Cormac Ryan has quietly been playing some excellent basketball for the Wisconsin Herd, G League affiliate of the Milwaukee Bucks. Still trying to break through to the NBA, Ryan could earn himself an opportunity this summer if he keeps playing well. With Gary Trent Jr.'s time with the Bucks coming to an end, in all likelihood, perhaps Milwaukee could look to promote some in house talent.
Bucks may have something in G League standout Cormac Ryan
The Milwaukee Bucks have essentially ended the Gary Trent Jr. experiment. Following his exceptional playoff run, Trent hasn't found his footing at all this season, putting up some of the worst numbers of his entire NBA career. He's been pushed further down the depth chart due to the recent arrival of Cam Thomas and Ousmane Dieng, who have been revalations for this Bucks squad.
Unless Milwaukee's injury woes claim more victims, Trent's role has been reduced to just being depth.
It's still a tad too early to think about the offseason, but Trent feels as good as gone once free agency opens. If the Bucks need to beef up their wing depth, Ryan feels like a natural fit.
On the season, Ryan is averaging 19.8 points per game for the Herd, trailing only Pete Nance, another G League standout who is looking to make his way onto the Bucks standard roster, at 20.8. A sizeable chunk of his scoring has come from long-distance, where the shooting guard has shot 41.2 percent on seven attempts per game. In today's NBA, teams can never have enough shooting on the roster.
It must be noted that he isn't some raw hidden gem; he's 27. He's actually just a tad older than Trent. Yet, that doesn't mean the Milwaukee Bucks should discard him. Perhaps it means he's more polished and ready to contribute than some 18 or 19 year old (think AJ Johnson, the incredibly raw guard the Bucks drafted in 2024).
Ryan is worth a closer look. The NBA is a different beast from the G League, but the wing is showing off a legitimate knack for scoring the basketball, particularly through his shooting. He certainly won't be an All-Defensive player, but he has solid enough instincts to be serviceable on that end. Even if he is just depth, taking a low-risk gamble on Ryan could be a reasonable move.
It's not a guarantee Trent declines his player option to hit free agency, but with how this season has played out, it would be justifiable to seek a fresh start. In that case, it's welcoming to know that there is already a potential replacement down in the G League.
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