The Milwaukee Bucks have an elite shooting prospect in Kasparas Jakucionis, the overlooked guard who made his way over in the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade. While many things stand out about the 20-year-old, as he is brimming with potential, his outside shooting is undeniably the most fascinating. The Bucks cannot let it go to waste in his second NBA season.
Jakucionis is already an excellent perimeter shooter
Knocking in 66 of his 156 triple tries during his rookie season, Jakucionis converted on an impressive 42.3 percent of his 3-pointers. A good chunk of that productivity stemmed from how efficient he was when camped out in the corners. Across both the left and right sides, Jakucionis went 29-of-50 when letting it fly.
Among players to attempt at least 50 corner 3-pointers last season, Jakucionis' 58 percent success rate ranked second in the entire NBA. Sure, it's not a massive sample size, but it shows that the guard can produce when given the opportunity. It begs the question of what he might be capable of if he is given a greater chance to shine.
Imagine this. Jakuionis is sitting in one corner while AJ Green—who was an excellent corner shooter himself by converting on 48.7 percent of his attempts—is in the other. Meanwhile, the Bucks have an electric interior presence like Jericho Sims, Jaime Jaquez Jr., or, if they get a sign-and-trade across the finish line, All-Star Jalen Duren, lingering close to the hoop.
It would be a nightmare for opposing defenses, forcing them to pick their poison. Though Giannis is not in town anymore, driving and kicking could remain a strength for this Bucks team. That becomes much more plausible with a piece like Jakucionis earning time.
Backcourt jam threatens Jakucionis' growth
There aren't exactly minutes available for Jakucionis from day one. Even if the Milwaukee Bucks part with a guard or two as roster cuts linger, there will still be an assortment of them in town. Tyler Herro, Ryan Rollins, Kevin Porter Jr., AJ Green, Gary Trent Jr., and Brayden Burries all stand in his way as the backcourt rotation comes together.
No one is saying the Milwaukee Bucks should give him an opportunity if he hasn't earned it, but after pivoting to youth this summer, it would be tough to watch one of the most potential-filled players on the roster sit on the sidelines. There is a good chance that if the Bucks tackle this properly, Burries and Jakucionis could be the team's backcourt of the future. It all starts here with growth.
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