Solid minutes may be a sign Bucks youngster can escape Doc Rivers' doghouse

Against the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday night, the Milwaukee Bucks were rolling with a 20-point lead late in the fourth quarter. With the game all but decided, most would’ve expected the typical garbage-time lineup shuffle: veterans get a breather, and deep reserves log their usual mop-up duty.

Still, it was a bit of a surprise when Tyler Smith came into the game in the fourth quarter before any of the other young Milwaukee Bucks with around five minutes left to play. 

By the time the rest of the reserves joined him with just over two minutes remaining, Smith had already shown why he might be exactly what the Bucks need to address their frontcourt depth issues. He finished the game with three boards and an assist.

This writer has long argued that the Milwaukee Bucks don't need to look far to solve their problems in the frontcourt, and this game is another reason why.

Tyler Smith plugs a lot of the holes the Bucks' frontcourt currently has

While those numbers are not necessarily something to write home about, it's how Tyler Smith got there that stood out.

The minutes weren't even what you would call productive, but the thing is, Smith also never once looked like he was lacking in effort. Almost immediately after checking in, he took and missed a contested three in the corner, then blocked a Simone Fontecchio 3-point attempt as he closed out aggressively to the left wing. It was initially called a foul until the Bucks won the challenge, and of course, Smith won the jump ball. 

His missed 3-point attempt from the corner might not have gone in, but the confidence to take it speaks volumes. For a second-round pick, confidence and a clear willingness to contribute on both ends are as important as raw skill.

In just those five minutes, he used his size, rebounded the ball well and, in one sequence, even took the ball down himself on the fastbreak, which led to a pass to an open AJ Johnson in the corner for the quick triple.

Smith’s brief stint highlighted the tools he brings to the table. With his 6-foot-10 frame, he’s active, engaged, able to somewhat handle the ball and willing to let it fly from deep—traits that make him a valuable fit in today’s NBA.

Look, Smith is still very much a flawed player. While his willingness to shoot from deep is promising, his shot selection can be questionable, as evidenced by his contested corner three against Detroit. Additionally, his decision-making in high-pressure situations is still developing, occasionally leading to turnovers or missed opportunities.

Despite his encouraging flashes, Tyler Smith remains a work in progress, with clear areas for improvement before he can contribute consistently. But these flaws, while not unusual for a rookie, highlight the gap between potential and readiness, underscoring the need for patience as he refines his game.

He's still not the most spry or mobile of bigs, but he was active and engaged on defense while clearly unafraid of letting it fly from deep on offense. In today's NBA, that's really all you can ask for in a young and inexperienced big man drafted in the second round.

This isn't to say he's the answer to all this team's problems. It's only to pose a simple question: if the Bucks can find an extremely competent contributor with former 36th pick Andre Jackson Jr., who's to say they can't do it again with 33rd pick Tyler Smith?

He's no star, but Smith can help keep Bucks' frontcourt rotation fresh

The Bucks’ frontcourt rotation is top-heavy, with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Brook Lopez shouldering the lion’s share of minutes. Beyond them, the depth has been shaky.

Bobby Portis is a reliable offensive contributor off the bench but isn't the best defender at this point. While the Bucks are afloat, they do lack a younger, more versatile big who can allow Lopez to rest and provide spacing and defense in spot minutes. Lopez, too, has sometimes been a matchup-dependent kind of player, as he has often struggled defending athletic bigs who can stretch the floor.

That’s where Smith could come in. He has the frame to defend and rebound, the instincts to make plays and the potential to stretch the floor as a shooter. While his mobility may limit him against quicker bigs, his skill set aligns with what the Milwaukee Bucks need to keep their stars fresh and their system humming.

It’s easy to overreact to a five-minute stretch in garbage time, but Smith’s minutes offered a glimpse of what he could become. For a late second-round pick, getting any opportunity to show value is huge, and Tyler Smith took full advantage.

If the Milwaukee Bucks are serious about addressing their frontcourt depth and building for the future, giving Smith more chances to develop could pay off in a big way. Tuesday night might have been the first step toward solving Milwaukee’s frontcourt puzzle—and it only took five minutes. And if the choice to plug him in that early is any indication, Tyler Smith may already be on his way there.

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