The Bucks have been busy in free agency with moves to retain players like Gary Trent Jr., Kevin Porter, and Bobby Portis while adding newcomers like Myles Turner and Gary Harris. With so much going on, the news of Milwaukee re-signing Jericho Sims may go under the radar, but he can play a key role for the team this upcoming season while providing needed depth in the frontcourt.
Jericho Sims is the ideal piece to round out the Bucks' frontcourt
The deal to keep Sims in a Bucks uniform is reportedly for two seasons, with a player option in the second season, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. With so much uncertainty about the frontcourt heading into free agency, the addition of Turner and the Bucks' retention of Portis and Sims make Milwaukee one of the deepest front courts in the league when you place them all alongside superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo.
With Brook Lopez taking a deal to join the Clippers, the Bucks pivoted to a younger version of Lopez in Myles Turner. Turner provides a familiar skill set of rim protection and outside shooting that has been a winning formula dating back to the team's 2021 title run. Sims, on the other hand, provides the Milwaukee Bucks with much-needed athleticism and switchability on the front line.
Despite his acquisition being overshadowed by the news of the Middleton for Kuzma trade at the deadline, Sims was a pleasant surprise that many Bucks fans enjoyed at the end of last season. Sims' quickness allowed him to play in games where the opposing team trotted out smaller lineups. His ability to switch off larger players onto smaller ones and hold his own was a massive win for Milwaukee.
He also provided a huge boost in athleticism, catching lobs from Giannis and altering shots at the rim. His play stood out as a direct contrast to someone like Lopez, who appeared too slow at times last season to keep up with the uptempo style of today's NBA. This more switchable style, highlighted by players like Sims and Portis, was showcased heavily to end the season and in their first-round exit against Turner's former team.
Jon Horst and the rest of the front office have been very busy thus far, with more moves likely to come to try and keep Giannis happy. Jericho Sims is a small but important piece of the puzzle that the Bucks were lucky to retain. The movement from the oldest roster in the league last year to a much younger, more versatile, and athletic roster heading into the 2025-2026 season is beginning to take shape, and Sims is a perfect example of that.