Doc Rivers was reportedly pushing for the Milwaukee Bucks to retain a key free agent this summer. In an interview with The Athletic's Eric Nehm (subscription required), Milwaukee's general manager, Jon Horst, said, "Doc was pushing for the Ryan [Rollins] pick-up." The Bucks and Rollins were able to come to terms on an extension, and now, Rivers must unlock the guard.
Ryan Rollins is due for a bigger breakout if Rivers fully buys in
One could argue that Rollins has the most potential out of any young player on this Milwaukee roster. Standing at 6-foot-4 with a 6-foot-9.75 wingspan, Rollins has both the height and length to hound his matchups. Offensively, there is plenty of room to grow, but Rollins averaging 6.2 points while sinking 55 percent of his twos and 40.8 percent of his threes shows that he has a feel for the game.
Having averaged just 14.6 minutes per game while playing on an injured shoulder last season, there is no doubt Rollins could blow last year's performance out of the water. However, it will be up to Rivers to put him in positions to unlock that. Rivers went away from Rollins almost entirely in the playoffs. That can't happen again. What he brings to the table is too important to this Milwaukee team.
Rivers' reported desire to have Rollins back in town signals that he now understands what he has on his hands. Known for helping guide plenty of star point guards early in their careers, Rivers must now do his part to unlock Ryan Rollins, who just turned 23 years old. That means playing him through his struggles and offering guidance at every turn.
The prominent question in Bucks circles right now is who Rivers might give the starting nod to at the point guard position. Kevin Porter Jr. feels like the frontrunner, but nothing is set in stone. If Rivers is looking to establish a defensive-first identity, he could throw Rollins out there to begin games. Doing so would certainly back up Horst's claim about Rivers wanting him in town.
The next step for Rollins, especially if he starts, is simply showing growth in everything he did well last season. Offensively, he shot it well but averaged just 4.8 attempts per contest. If he can up that while maintaining his efficiency, it would bolster this Milwaukee offense. Defensively, it feels like a matter of time before Rollins finds himself guarding the biggest names in the sport, and he must hold his own.
The three-year, $12 million deal Rollins signed this offseason could end up becoming a steal quickly.
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