The Milwaukee Bucks have reshaped their roster this summer around Giannis Antetokounmpo once again, including moving on from Damian Lillard just months after doing the same with Khris Middleton. One player the team kept around was young point guard Ryan Rollins -- but they don't seem quite ready to commit to him.
Rollins was a promising prospect in the NBA Draft who went from 3-star unheralded low-major recruit to a breakout star at Toledo, and while he didn't rise all the way into the first round therre was a lot of excitement that the Golden State Warriors had found a steal in the second round.
Then a foot injury diminished his play as a rookie and ultimately knocked him out for the season. Without much positive tape to go on, the Warriors included him as the final salary needed in their trade for Chris Paul, and Rollins became a Washington Wizard. He never found his footing there, either, and was eventually waived.
That is when he joined the Milwaukee Bucks, first on a two-way contract and then at the end of last season a standard contract. His game blossomed in Milwaukee, and Rollins showed a real comfort level handling the ball and making plays for others, while also shooting 40.8 percent from deep and providing competent defense.
There was a moment where it seemed that the Bucks' machinations to waive and stretch Damian Lillard and sign Myles Turner were going to mean another team got to swoop in and steal Rollins, but then it was annoucned that the two sides came to terms on a three-year contract to keep Rollins on the Bucks.
The Bucks are not fully committed to Rollins as a starter
That may have seemed like a commitment to Rollins, and on some level it is, but it has not meant that the Bucks -- who believe they can compete in the Eastern Conference next season -- are ready to go all-in on the Ryan Rollins experience.
The team also brought back reclamation project Kevin Porter Jr. who by the end of the season was starting in the place of Damian Lillard. Then they were in constant rumors about trying to sign another guard to add to the mix -- not only scoring guards like Bradley Beal, but playmaking point guards whose games would overlap directly with Rollins.
In fact, it was widely reported that a starting spot was waiting for veteran point guard Chris Paul if he signed with the Bucks. He ultimately decided to return to the LA Clippers, but it's another data point that the team isn't ready to hand the reins to Rollins.
Ultimately, the newcomer the Bucks added to the backcourt was Cole Anthony, who is more of a combo guard but will certainly handle the ball a fair bit -- potentially, if not certainly, diminishing Rollins' usage and impact. For all that the Bucks will like to strut about restoring Rollins' career, they don't seem all too keen on giving him the space for the next step.
Ryan Rollins is only 23 years old this season with plenty of room to grow. That may happen in Milwaukee and it may happen this year. The Bucks have made it clear, however, that they are not ready to trust the young guard. He will need to earn that trust for his career to take the next step.