The Milwaukee Bucks need a tall, lengthy, defensive-first forward, which Anfernee Simons is not whatsoever. Despite this, HoopsHype NBA insider Michael Scotto reports that the Bucks have kept tabs on the young guard, who is currently a member of the Boston Celtics. It's somewhat surprising that the Bucks are looking at another offense-first small guard after the Damian Lillard experiment.
Simons is a nice player, but Bucks shouldn't pounce
Damian Lillard was a nice player for the Bucks, but there's a reason why Jrue Holiday, despite maybe not being as good a player, was a better fit. Holiday, who stood two inches taller and 20lbs heavier than Lillard, was a two-way force who got it done on both ends. There were never many defensive highlights in Lillard's catalogue. His offense was great, but he was often targeted elsewhere.
Holiday, meanwhile, is responsible for one of the most iconic defensive plays in Bucks history, where he stripped Devin Booker in Game 5 of the NBA Finals. The six career All-Defensive nods certainly highlight his impact as well.
In today's NBA, two-way players get the job done. Just look at Ryan Rollins, who is currently enjoying a Most Improved Player-like campaign. Even nights when he's struggling offensively, he can still be a factor because of his defense. That's not something that happens often with Simons or other smaller guards who are more offense-oriented.
Simons could certainly help the Milwaukee Bucks with their need for another go-to scorer outside of Giannis Antetokounmpo. However, the $27.7 million price tag for a 6-foot-3 guard known for just his offense may be too much. A deal would likely center around Kyle Kuzma, whose salary could be very useful in a different trade for a two-way piece.
The Bucks don't exactly need another guard right now. Ryan Rollins is running the show, and Kevin Porter Jr. is due back in the coming days. If they could find an upgrade over Cole Anthony, who has been poor lately, that would be fine, but not one that costs $27 million this year. That kind of money should be spent on a tall wing who can defend the opposing team's best small forward.
Simons simply doesn't move the needle. The Milwaukee Bucks will be aggressive, as Scotto notes that they are already looking across the league for help, including Sacramento's Zach LaVine, but it would be welcoming if some defensive-minded names were mentioned as targets. Obviously, the Bucks will remain on the hunt. They do homework on everyone. This is just the beginning.
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