Amir Coffey has yet to make much of a mark for the Milwaukee Bucks. Signed late in free agency coming off a career year, he has the makings of a steal, an established wing player who fits the Bucks' needs on a minimum salary. It's early, but through three games, they're still waiting for a return on their investment.
Coffey optimism will curdle quickly if doesn't show up soon
Back in August, the Bucks snatched Coffey on an Exhibit 9 deal, effectively a free trial to see if he could help patch their size issues at the wing. Coffey played over 70 games each of the past two seasons, a regular member of the Clippers' rotation. Last year earned a career-high in minutes and scored a career-best 9.7 points per game on 40.9 percent shooting from 3-point range. Sounds like a steal, right?
Then again, maybe other teams had a reason for leaving Coffey unsigned so late in the offseason.
The opportunity to prove himself has been there in the early going. With Kyle Kuzma hurt, the Bucks have scrambled to replace his minutes as a bigger wing defender. It seemed like the perfect chance for Coffey to step in, but that hasn't been the case.
Against Toronto and Cleveland, he played only 11 minutes. While Coffey is never going to fill up box scores, he still has to contribute something. The row of zeros on his stat sheet also reflects how he has looked on the court. He seems a bit shaky, as if still trying to find his footing in Milwaukee's rotation.
He scored his only basket of the season and dished out two assists on opening night versus the Wizards. He's taken two shots and turned it over once. In 24 total minutes, Coffey has accumulated a -10 box score plus-minus. He hasn't given them much of anything.
To account for Kuzma's absence, Rivers has simply given more minutes to Taurean Prince. With the Bucks in need of size at the wing, Prince featured in Milwaukee's closing lineup in each of the last two games. Tellingly, Coffey has played less in competitive contests against the Raptors and Cavaliers than he did in a semi-blowout game against Washington.
Of course, three games in is far too early to count Coffey out. The Bucks saw enough in training camp to give him a roster spot over Chris Livingston and Tyler Smith, eating over $4 million in the process while guaranteeing Coffey's contract. He drew glowing praise from Rivers for his basketball IQ and intangibles. He may simply need more time to get comfortable in a new environment.
Coffey will have to give the Bucks something soon, though, or they're going to look rather foolish for investing in a player no one else wanted.