The Milwaukee Bucks have built up a reputation for squandering young talent in this recent era, but their work with G-League players has actually been surprisingly competent in recent years with the emergence of Ryan Rollins and most recently, Pete Nance. And they might have just found another diamond in the rough in Cormac Ryan.
Most recently, Ryan put up 25 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and a steal on 7-of-15 shooting (including going 3-of-8 from three) in 35 minutes during the Herd's 114-103 win over Westchester on January 20. Even despite the Herd losing on January 26 to the Noblesville Boom, Ryan put up 23 points on 9-of-12 shooting and 5-of-8 from deep, along with seven rebounds, one assist and one steal in 31 minutes. The point is, he's clearly surging, and that should warrant at least a second and third look at him and what he can do if given the chance.
Milwaukee has a player within reach who has scored double digits in all of his 20 games so far in the G League. It's time they take notice and actually do something about it.
Cormac Ryan might be the latest Wisconsin Herd breakout
The Bucks have spent all season chasing trades for established veterans while ignoring the talent developing in their own system. First Pete Nance delivers in limited minutes, now Ryan's dominating G-League competition. And maybe, just maybe, the answer to Milwaukee's depth problems isn't external -- it's internal.
This writer has been advocating for this for what feels like years now: with the Bucks having traded the farm for more stars to put next to Giannis, the only solution is the development of young players. And the truth is that they just haven't taken advantage of the G League as much as they could be.
So yes, Jon Horst needs to give Ryan the same chance he gave Nance. Bring him up, give him real minutes against NBA competition, and see if the shooting and scoring translate. The worst case is he's not ready and goes back to the G-League. The best case is Milwaukee just found rotation scoring without giving up any assets.
The next G-League success story might already be in Milwaukee's system. They just need to be smart enough to recognize it before some other team poaches Ryan and turns him into a rotation contributor elsewhere.
It's time for Horst and company to stop chasing expensive trades for marginal upgrades and start developing the talent that's already wearing your organization's uniform and producing at every level below the NBA.
Cormac Ryan keeps hooping for the Herd. Time to see if he can hoop for the Bucks too.
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