It felt inevitable that the Milwaukee Bucks would add a point guard before next season began. Indeed, they've found one, as ESPN's Shams Charania reports that Cole Anthony will be signing with the team after completing his contract buyout with the Memphis Grizzlies. Anthony went to Memphis earlier in the summer in the blockbuster Desmond Bane trade, but he won't log a single minute there.
Bucks have a strong point guard trio after Anthony signing
As far as third-string point guards go, it's hard to beat Cole Anthony. He was a solid player during his five-year stint with the Orlando Magic, averaging 12.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game while shooting 34.5 percent from deep. Whether he served as a reserve or a starter, Anthony found ways to impact the game constantly.
The biggest question involving the guard is his defense. At 6-foot-2, he is at a disadvantage from a height perspective, as he can get picked on by bigger guards and wings. Defense was never his strong suit in Orlando, but if he can at least be serviceable on that side of things in Milwaukee, he will grow on fans quickly.
What separates Anthony from Kevin Porter Jr. and Ryan Rollins is that he's the only pure point guard of the bunch. The other two are combo guards, meaning they can play both point and shooting guard. With that in mind, it's entirely possible that Anthony could be featured in lineups with either player to give the team some variety. He's not coming to Milwaukee to be stashed on the bench.
It makes sense that the Milwaukee Bucks would go after Cole Anthony over names like Chris Paul and Malcolm Brogdon. While they may be more recognizable, Paul is 40, while Brogdon has battled plenty of injuries throughout his career, making them gambles. Anthony is just 25 and has appeared in over 60 games in four of his five NBA seasons.
Milwaukee has clearly made it a priority to get younger and more athletic this summer, and Anthony will help keep the ball rolling in that regard.
With the point guard rotation beefed up, Milwaukee must focus on fortifying their small forward spot. A trade or final free agent signing could go a long way in finishing off what has been a solid retooling from Jon Horst, Milwaukee's general manager.
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