Put simply, Milwaukee dodged a bullet. Back in July, the Bucks were reported to have had their eyes on Tre Mann, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. But that was before Charlotte swooped in and re-signed him.
At the time, it probably felt like missing out on a solid backup guard option. The Bucks were moving on from Damian Lillard and needed all the help they could get in the backcourt. Tre Mann was available. And Jon Horst and company missed out on his services.
Turns out, the Hornets did Milwaukee a massive favor.
Tre Mann's struggles contrast with Cole Anthony's sudden breakout
So far this season, Tre Mann has averaged 10.6 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 13 games this season on 35.9 percent shooting from the field.
Mann's struggling in Charlotte while Cole Anthony is thriving in exactly the role Milwaukee needed filled. The contrast couldn't be clearer at this point. One guard is fighting for relevance on a rebuilding team, the other is becoming a legitimate sixth man for a championship contender.
Anthony brings everything Mann doesn't: size, playmaking vision, defensive versatility, and most importantly, the willingness to sacrifice individual stats for team success. Mann's always been a score-first guard who needs the ball to be effective. That's the last thing Milwaukee needed next to Giannis.
The fit with Anthony just works in ways Mann never would have. Cole's learning from Rajon Rondo how to be a true floor general. He's doubling his assist numbers and making everyone around him better. Mann would've been hunting his own offense and clogging up the system.
Charlotte probably overpaid to keep Mann too, which would've been another problem for Milwaukee's already stressed finances. Instead, the Bucks got Anthony for significantly less money and way better production. That's the kind of value efficiency that championship teams need.
Mann's talent was never in question, of course. The question was always about fit and role acceptance. He's spent his career trying to prove he's more than a bench scorer, which makes him the wrong personality for what Milwaukee needed. For all his flaws, Anthony's embraced being the backup point guard who facilitates and scores when necessary.
But sometimes the best moves are the ones you don't make. Milwaukee was saved from themselves by Charlotte's willingness to bring Mann back. The Bucks ended up with the better player for their system purely by accident.
This summer could've easily gone differently. Milwaukee might've outbid Charlotte for Mann, convinced themselves he was the answer, and spent the season frustrated with another misfit guard who didn't complement Giannis properly.
Instead, they got Anthony, who's already proving to be one of the steals of the offseason.
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