Everyone's writing off Milwaukee Bucks newcomer Cole Anthony like he's some washed-up veteran, but all it takes is a cursory check of the numbers from his first three years to prove otherwise.
Anthony averaged 14.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 4.6 assists in 172 games in his first three seasons. Those aren't backup numbers. That's starting point guard production from a guy who's barely 24 years old and somehow available for the minimum.
And the truth many don't yet realize is that this isn't just some long-term project or minimum contract Hail Mary; it's a proven NBA scorer sitting at the end of Milwaukee's bench. And this time it's not the corpse of a washed-up has-been.
Cole Anthony is set to carry Milwaukee's bench on his back
Orlando basically gave up on Anthony after his first down year, which feels a bit unjust when you look at what he accomplished before that. This is, after all, someone who dropped 20-plus points in multiple games as a rookie. He showed he could run an offense and create for others.
Anthony struggled mightily this past season with a reduced role, putting up just 9.4 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.9 assists a night. The Magic decided they didn't need that anymore and just let him go in a trade with Memphis.
Obviously, the Magic were looking like one of the deepest teams in the league at the time, and there were only so many minutes for the coaching staff to dole out. But you would think a score-first point guard with touch around the rim and beyond the arc would at least find some semblance of a role on any bench unit.
Which brings us to the Bucks. Milwaukee's backcourt situation is pretty desperate right now (and let's be honest, has been for quite some time). In many ways, the guard play off the Bucks bench just hasn't been the same since the days of George Hill (the first time). Since then, they've had to cycle through the likes of Jeff Teague, DJ Augustin, and Goran Dragic, among others.
Of course, Jevon Carter and Pat Beverley brought tenacity, especially on the defensive side of the ball, but the point is that Milwaukee just never found a consistently dependable playmaker and scorer to buoy their second units in this era of Bucks basketball. Even reliable pieces like, say, Ryan Rollins, aren't necessarily the ones you want orchestrating the entire offense.
So heading into this offseason, they absolutely needed someone who could actually handle the ball when Giannis Antetokounmpo sits, someone who won't fold under playoff pressure. Now they have that.
None of this is to say he's going to be their next great superstar. But he’s a player who has shown flashes of brilliance, and now he has the chance to thrive with a freer, more defined role.
And perhaps the best part: Anthony's still young. Not only does he have room to grow, but if he finds his stride, he could end up being the team's bench leader of the future as the team embarks on a new era of Milwaukee Bucks basketball.
Most players don't hit their peak until their mid-twenties, which means Milwaukee might be getting this guy right as he figures it all out.