The Milwaukee Bucks made several moves at the NBA Trade Deadline, but in the three games since, it's the moves they didn't make that are haunting them.
It was clear that Milwaukee needed to get younger and more athletic in the frontcourt, and Jon Horst addressed this by adding young big man Jericho Sims. However, Sims hasn't played in any of the last three games, and it's largely because the Milwaukee Bucks didn't clear any room for him at the center spot by keeping both Brook Lopez and Bobby Portis on the roster.
Keeping both is quickly proving to be a troublesome decision for the slumping Milwaukee Bucks.
The Bucks' problems at center have loomed large all season
For months now, teams have feasted on Brook Lopez and Bobby Portis, especially when they are on the floor together. The pair simply don't have the athleticism, mobility or speed to keep up with young players of all positions. Over the last three contests, they have been playing hefty minutes due to the absence of Giannis Antetokounmpo, and it's been a glaring issue for this team (1-2 in that stretch).
In Milwaukee's recent loss to Atlanta, Mouhamed Gueye had a day to remember with 15 points and and 12 rebounds, flexing his athletic ability and young motor. In Monday's loss to Golden State, the pair were thoroughly outplayed by Quinten Post, who just had his contract converted to a standard deal, as he poured in 13 points on three made 3-pointers.
Young bigs are finding success against Milwaukee, and part of that has to do with the slow-footed play of the Bucks' centers.
Obviously, the Giannis-sized hole in the lineup is playing a part in this. When he returns, the Bucks can roll with more small-ball lineups, lessening the need for Lopez and Portis while relying more on Kuzma to play the four and Giannis at the five. However, even then, Lopez and Portis are still going to earn the bulk of the minutes at center, and that's been a consistent issue.
Keeping both Lopez and Portis could serve as a lingering issue for the remainder of the NBA season, especially if Doc Rivers continues ignoring the athletic ability of Jericho Sims. Would Sims come in and be the needle-mover for Milwaukee? No, but remember when the Bucks benched Delon Wright and Pat Connaughton and relied on young pieces like AJ Green, Andre Jackson Jr. and Ryan Rollins? That was a step in the right direction that fueled an early-season turnaround for the Bucks.
Something similar here could help mightily at the center spot. Just simply injecting some youth and athleticism at center could work wonders for this team. As just discussed with the other rising young Milwaukee Bucks, Rivers has changed up his rotations before, and it's time for him to give it another go at the center spot before it's too late.
Keeping one of the two centers would have made sense, given that Milwaukee could cycle between whichever big and Sims to give them different looks, but retaining both was a head-scratcher due to how much the Bucks have been hampered by their lack of athleticism and mobility all season.
Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis.