It is clear the Milwaukee Bucks are in the market for a point guard, but they cannot fill the position simply with a recognizable name similar to the Delon Wright signing of last season.
Kevin Porter Jr. is expected to decline his player option, Ryan Rollins is a free agent, and Damian Lillard is expected to miss much of the 2025-26 season. That leaves the backcourt incredibly light, and the Bucks need to find suitable players to fix the gap.
Players who have been thrown out as options to join the Bucks before are Hall of Famers Chris Paul and Russell Westbrook. Milwaukee needs a player who can contribute offensively and bring a spark at the point guard position. Sadly, these two have seen better days, and there are plenty of other options that can offer what the Milwaukee Bucks need.
Bucks can't have a repeat of the Delon Wright signing
When Wright signed, this writer, like many, was quite positive about the signing. A veteran guard who is known for his ability to play both spots in the backcourt and is one of the better guard defenders on the cheap should have been a good pickup. That was far from the case. The move was nothing short of a disaster, which is quite something when you sign a player on a minimum deal.
Wright played 26 games for the Milwaukee Bucks, averaging 15.6 minutes, 2.5 points, 1.8 assists, and 1.8 rebounds on dismal shooting splits of .268/.245/.563. He was flipped midway through the season for Jericho Sims, which seemed a steal for the Bucks as they desperately needed some frontcourt athleticism.
What makes it even more of a 'classic' Milwaukee spell, with the New York Knicks, he played similar minutes and averaged 4.3 points, 2.1 assists and 1.4 rebounds on splits of .469/.333/.667. The Knicks are a better team than the Bucks, but it's frustrating to see him be so poor in Milwaukee and then be somewhat impactful in their postseason run to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Rollins is someone the Bucks should lean into. He has shown great growth since being a two-way player, becoming a key part of the roster. They should aim to re-sign him. Whether you let him start with Lillard out is a different question, as that puts pressure on him. You can't fill the shoes of Lillard, but the Bucks must weigh their options without simply going for the best name out there.
It will be a strange season for the Bucks. Giannis Antetokounmpo can easily lead the team back to the playoffs without Lillard, but when he returns, what shape are the Milwaukee Bucks in?
Bringing in a recognizable veteran based solely on the name won't work for the team. They need guys who can come in and add both a scoring punch and the ability to facilitate while holding up on the defensive end.