Milwaukee Bucks fans were ready to see Mark Sears, the undrafted two-way player they just acquired a few weeks ago, during the team's Summer League slate. However, his appearance for the entire schedule now appears in doubt after the team reported that he is currently dealing with a calf strain, having already missed the team's opener.
Other guards will have to step up for Bucks as Sears recovers
A calf strain is always unfortunate, but it's especially unfortunate for Sears due to how Milwaukee's current point guard rotation looks. With just Kevin Porter Jr. and Ryan Rollins on the standard roster, it's clear that Milwaukee may look to beef up the roster with another floor general. A strong showing during the Summer League could have brought some attention to Sears in that regard.
On paper, Sears has what it takes to help this team. While he's undersized, which will be the largest obstacle he must overcome, he has the scoring and facilitating chops to be a dangerous offensive guard. There's a reason he's been compared to All-Star Jalen Brunson.
With Sears out, the Milwaukee Bucks will have to turn to other guards. Jamaree Bouyea undoubtedly took advantage of that opportunity in the opener, tallying 13 points, including the game-winner, and five assists. A fellow two-way player, Bouyea has an opportunity to prove why he belongs with this team, perhaps even in a larger capacity, over the next few games.
Markquis Nowell is another player worth keeping an eye on. He went scoreless in his 13 minutes off the bench against the Denver Nuggets, shooting just a single shot, but he did dish out seven assists, a game-high. The vision is there, but to truly stand out, it would be nice if he could put a few points on the board as well.
At the time of this writing, there's no telling how severe Sears' calf strain is. He could make his debut in the team's next game for all everyone knows. However, erring on the side of caution, it wouldn't be much of a surprise if the Milwaukee Bucks kept him on the sidelines. With all of the Achilles tears in the NBA over the last few months, it might not be worth pushing an injured calf.
If he sits out, the Milwaukee Bucks will continue to get a look at a few other, under the radar players.
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