For years, the Milwaukee Bucks have tried and tried again to find a reliable big man behind their top three players in the rotation. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bobby Portis, and Brook Lopez, who has since been replaced by Myles Turner, have all had to play significant minutes due to a lack of reliability, but Jericho Sims could help take some of that pressure off next year.
Jericho Sims could be one of Milwaukee's best kept secrets
In recent memory, Robin Lopez, Serge Ibaka, and Meyers Leonard are a few names who have held this particular role. While recognizable names, they were nothing more than temporary stopgaps who did not see much time at all most nights. In those cases, they were all past their primes and could not be relied upon too heavily. Sims is on the opposite end of things.
At 26, Sims is still young and potentially hasn't even reached his prime. Unlike the past veterans, who were all in their 30s, Sims' best days could very well be ahead of him. Admittedly, the big man isn't too much of a stat-sheet-stuffer. He's not going to score 20 points and dish out 10 assists. However, that doesn't mean he can't impact the game whenever he's on the floor.
Unlike the past veterans, who were mostly out there to simply be a big body on the floor, Sims can provide hustle, rebounding, and, perhaps most importantly, tough defense. Not only can he fill in, but he can make a legitimate impact on the game. That's the type of player every team wants to have as their fourth big man.
Adding to Sims' desirability is that he fits in with every single one of Milwaukee's other bigs. While the offense might be a bit clunky with Giannis, these two are formidable defensively. Portis can step out to the perimeter and shoot the long ball while Sims attacks inside. The same goes for Turner, but he and Sims could also be a dynamic one-two punch on the defensive end.
At this point, there's no telling how many minutes Jericho Sims might log in this retooled rotation the Milwaukee Bucks have put together. However, knowing he is there as depth at the bare minimum is a welcoming notion after the last few seasons of mostly unreliable big men on the roster. One of the team's most under the radar signings could be crucial down the line.
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