Milwaukee Bucks fans were intrigued when the team signed Mark Sears to a two-way contract as an undrafted free agent this summer. Problem was, they never got a chance to see him in action as a calf strain kept him sidelined during Summer League. As roster storylines took shape without him, he faded from focus.
Thursday against the Pistons, after getting two minutes in the preseason opener, the Alabama All-American finally got a chance to make his mark. Sears didn't have much to work with, but he made the most of his limited minutes to leave a positive first impression.
Sears looked smooth in first crack on the court
When Doc Rivers called his name midway through the fourth quarter, Sears wasted no time getting involved, creating perhaps the highlight of the night via an alley-oop to Thanasis Antetokounmpo on the Bucks' first turn on offense after he came into the game.
He did not attempt a shot until late in crunch time, but he delivered at key moments: a scoop shot high off the glass to extend the lead to three, 112-109, followed by a smooth hesitation layup on the next possession. His lack of size surfaced on defense, but he showed up to play, contesting closely and going after loose balls.
The thing that stood out most in his first, brief glimpse as a Buck was undoubtedly his comfort handling the ball and his touch in the paint. He didn't have time to showcase much, but he looked like a solid floor general in his few minutes on the court.
A dynamic scorer and facilitator at Alabama, Sears boasts a blend of shot creation and passing skills that fit the Milwaukee Bucks' combo guard blueprint. Those qualities are what made him an interesting addition, although the hope that he might finagle his way into the regular-season rotation no longer has substance. With Sears MIA all summer, it never had a chance to gain traction.
He is also a bit undersized and a target on defense. The Bucks have emphasized installing strong defenders at every position, so Sears' flaws there put him at a disadvantage. Compared to someone like Ryan Rollins, another young, if obviously more experienced player, Sears doesn't have the two-way abilities to keep up. Still, his offensive skills give him something to hang his hat on.
For this season, Sears seems destined for a G-League stint with the Wisconsin Herd. Beyond that, who knows? Aside from his Alabama days, there just isn't anything to go on. Getting up his first field goals serves as a start, but the Bucks need to see more of him to form a better idea of what they have.