Next season, not only will Giannis Antetokounmpo be the Milwaukee Bucks' top scoring option, but he will also be their primary initiator, taking on more ball-handling responsibility than ever before. That is without even mentioning his defensive burden. With a lot on his shoulders, the Bucks cannot let their star player get burnt out, which is where a piece like Jericho Sims could be incredibly valuable.
The Milwaukee Bucks need Jericho Sims to be a situational piece
Jericho Sims isn't checking into a game and replicating what Giannis brings to the table. No one is expecting that. However, he can give the Milwaukee Bucks another big body who could take some minutes to give the Greek Freak a breather. Even if it's a mere five minutes, that could be valuable to Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Doc Rivers will be walking a tightrope with Giannis this season. He'll need to play him hefty minutes to make sure Milwaukee remains competitive, but he also cannot play him too much to the point where the burden is extreme. The Milwaukee Bucks cannot afford to wear out their star by the end of the year if they want to make any noise in the NBA Playoffs.
Again, Sims isn't a game-changer, but he can be a nice rotational fill-in when called upon. He's young, athletic, and energetic, which fuels him as a tough rebounder, defender, and lob threat. All of that can be useful when Giannis sits. If Sims and the Bucks can stay afloat for a few minutes while their star is out of the game, that could be all they need to make this idea work.
Of course, Sims won't be alone in helping to preserve the Greek Freak. There's a reason the Bucks spent big to bring in Myles Turner and retain Bobby Portis. However, those two have clear-cut roles under Rivers, while Sims doesn't. Rivers cannot bury him on the bench for good while Giannis is on the floor exhausting himself every single night. It's a recipe for trouble in the long run.
Sims is currently slated to be Milwaukee's "break glass in case of emergency" big man, but the Bucks cannot undervalue how much he can help them in spurts. Even if he's not someone destined to earn major minutes nightly, he fits in perfectly with the new-look roster the Milwaukee Bucks now have.
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