When the Milwaukee Bucks traded Khris Middleton, they formed a question they hadn't had to ponder for many years: who would be the team's third scoring option?
Since the trade, the answer has been whoever is hot on any given night. Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard are the clear top two, but there has been very little consistency lately, especially during Milwaukee's recent sluggish stretch, behind them in the pecking order. With the NBA's regular season winding down and the playoffs nearing, the Milwaukee Bucks don't have long to find an answer.
Who will be the Bucks' third scoring option with Middleton gone?
After trading Middleton, Kyle Kuzma felt like the obvious answer, given some of the numbers he's put up in prior seasons. However, Kuzma hasn't been a focal point of the offense to the degree that many thought he would be. Instead, he's been more of a defensive Swiss Army Knife, with anything he gives on offense consistently coming as a welcoming bonus.
Kevin Porter Jr. is another player who has shown the potential to fill Middleton's role. He's a smooth scorer and even has the patented mid-range that Middleton flexed for many years. He's averaging 10.2 points on 48.5 percent shooting after the All-Star break, which is solid, but the true factor that is holding him back is his inconsistency, as his nightly production has been up and down in this stretch.
Sticking with guards, Gary Trent Jr. must also be under consideration. He's averaging 11.7 points on 36.8 percent 3-point shooting since the break. He's been a nice jolt off the bench, giving the Bucks a capable shot-creator and floor spacer. Yet, like Porter, the prominent thing stopping the two-guard from claiming this role permanently is the inconsistency.
How about Brook Lopez? He is indeed Milwaukee's third-leading scorer since the All-Star break came to a close at 14.3 points per game. He's got a case, but given what they are asking of him defensively, it would be nice to have the nearly 37-year-old not wearing himself down on a nightly basis, especially with their two other centers currently injured or suspended.
It was brutal timing for Bobby Portis to get suspended when he did coming out of the break because the team could have used his offensive jolt. Perhaps he could fill this role when he comes back from his time away, but with very little time to reintegrate himself into the lineup and build chemistry with his new teammates, there is no telling how he will look.
For the time being, the Milwaukee Bucks will rely on whoever steps up to the plate every night. However, sorting through these names, it would be nice if Kyle Kuzma could assert himself and make this third option question disappear. He has the tools, but he hasn't been able to put them together. The Milwaukee Bucks need him to start knocking down triples and finishing at the hoop. That would make life easier for everyone involved.
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