After being cut by the Milwaukee Bucks earlier this season, Mark Sears didn't have to travel too far, swiftly inking a deal with the G League's Wisconsin Herd. The young guard, who joined the Bucks as an undrafted free agent last summer, may not want to unpack all of his bags just yet, as he's playing like someone who could return to the NBA very soon.
Mark Sears has been great for the Herd in the G League
In 20 regular season games this year, Sears is averaging 17.6 points, six assists, four rebounds, and a steal per game while shooting 39.2 percent from deep. The guard immediately stepped up as one of the leaders for the squad, especially once Pete Nance started earning more time in the big leagues with the Milwaukee Bucks.
He's done a little bit of everything. The scoring, which was always his greatest strength throughout his five-year college career, has been fantastic. His facilitating, another strong suit, has helped keep the ball moving. For a 6-foot-1 guard, his rebounding has been impressive, as he hasn't let his height hinder him from staying active down low.
A hidden gem may very well be developing in Milwaukee's farm system.
An opportunity somewhere will likely come to Mark Sears
While Sears likely won't get an opportunity to join an NBA roster this season, there will likely be calls in the summer when teams have more time to evaluate their rosters. Plenty of teams could use depth at the point guard spot, especially considering Sears will have three years of eligibility left as a two-way contract player.
A return to Milwaukee should not be out of the cards. With Cam Thomas and Kevin Porter Jr. both eligible to hit free agency, the Bucks may be in the market for point guard depth. Giving Sears more of an opportunity could be a worthwhile experiment. They clearly saw some potential in him after taking him out of the undrafted pool last summer.
Milwaukee has found plenty of success in reclamation projects over the years, most notably with Ryan Rollins and newcomer Ousmane Dieng, and they shouldn't stop there. Sears isn't a guarantee, but he has the tools to be a nice piece at the NBA level. If he keeps playing as he has lately, someone, even if it's not Milwaukee, will try to unearth some of that lingering potential.
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