During this current era, the Milwaukee Bucks haven't made a name for themselves with hidden gems.
Over the last several years, most of their success has revolved around pulling off trades to put them in the best position to win. Yet, after pulling off pricey deals for players like Jrue Holiday, P.J. Tucker and Damian Lillard, the asset cupboard is running thin these days, and pulling off another big trade just likely isn't in the cards, at least for the moment.
With these limited trade assets and little to no spending money financially, the Bucks needed to turn the tide and find some hidden gems to implement into this rotation. This season, they've been doing just that. Second-round pick Andre Jackson Jr. is a starter, and the undrafted AJ Green is becoming an undeniable force on both sides of the ball.
Yet, there is another: Ryan Rollins. With Milwaukee banged up early in the year and needing someone to handle the ball, Rollins, who doesn't even have a standard NBA contract, got in the mix, and he has not disappointed. Whether it's with his shooting, passing, defense or overall energy, Rollins has been a bright spot for this team and should be in their plans moving forward.
The Bucks should promote Ryan Rollins when given the chance
As a two-way contract player, there are certain restrictions on Ryan Rollins. First off, he can appear in just 50 regular season games. Second, he can't play in the NBA Playoffs. Given how much he's shown he can help this team, having him unavailable for the postseason would be tough, especially given the team's need for depth and perimeter defense.
In 21 games this season, Rollins is averaging 4.5 points, 1.7 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 0.9 steals while shooting 39.4 percent from three. On paper, those might not be the flashiest numbers, but there's no denying his impact. He fits seamlessly in any lineup and is always making hustle plays. Not to mention that he's doing all of this with an injured shoulder that he's holding off getting surgery on to play.
Although it looks like Rollins will be the odd man out when the Milwaukee Bucks are at full strength at the moment, this would be an investment beyond just this season. At 22, Rollins still has no shortage of room to grow, and he could do that in Milwaukee. The early-season youth movement provided an immense spark for this team, and it may be the only path moving forward to keep contending.
If they decide to hand Rollins a standard contract, the Bucks could follow their own blueprint when they did so with former two-way wing AJ Green. Milwaukee handed Green a three-year deal worth $6.3 million, which has proven to be a legitimate steal. If the Bucks could get Rollins on the same type of deal, it could end up being a significant bargain, given the flashes Rollins has shown.
The Bucks could have something special on their hands with the hidden gem trio of Jackson, Green and Rollins.
For now, the Milwaukee Bucks will have to open a roster spot. With the NBA Trade Deadline less than a month away, it feels like that event may be on the horizon.
Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis.