Myles Turner missed the Milwaukee Bucks' final game of the preseason due to sudden calf soreness. While all signs suggest it's not a long-term concern, calf soreness is tricky and could be something that lingers. If Turner is dealing with this into the regular season, big man Jericho Sims could be used situationally to lighten the load off his shoulders.
Bucks may need recently re-signed big man
After the game, Doc Rivers didn't sound too concerned about Turner. "Just had a little calf soreness," Rivers told reporters. "Nothing urgent or anything. We just want to have a great weak of practice." He also said this won't impact Turner's availability for the season opener. That's good news, but as Bucks fans know from the Damian Lillard experience, calf issues can linger over time.
If that is the case, Doc Rivers could turn to Sims to give him a jolt at the center position.
Sims' role in Milwaukee's rotation is clear. If Giannis Antetokounmpo, Myles Turner, and Bobby Portis are healthy, he won't play. That was proven true in Milwaukee's preseason finale against the Thunder, where Turner sat and Sims logged 17 minutes. If Turner's soreness lingers, using Sims to give him a longer break would be wise. The Bucks don't want their star center getting too burnt out.
On paper, these two aren't very comparable at all. While both are reputable on the defensive side of the ball, Turner's offense is on a completely different level. Turner is known for his sweet shooting and ability to attack the hoop down low, while Sims doesn't even look at the rim on most possessions. In the preseason, he averaged a team-low 0.8 points per game.
With that in mind, Sims won't even come close to replicating what Turner brings to the table, but he can still be a viable break glass in case of an emergency big man. He's a decent, athletically gifted defender who can switch between matchups and rebound the ball. Offensively, he's basically just a lob threat, but that could be useful to Milwaukee's playmaking guards.
For now, all Milwaukee Bucks fans can do is hope that Turner can brush this soreness off and get back to being himself. He looked great for his new team in the preseason, and they will need him to reach their goal of getting back into title contention. In the meantime, Sims can wait to hear his name called if the opportunity presents itself any any point.
Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis.