With all the noise surrounding the Myles Turner addition to the Milwaukee Bucks, the forgotten big man, Jericho Sims, must stand out to become a rotational piece.
As the Bucks were crying out for athleticism in the frontcourt, acquiring Sims from the New York Knicks in exchange for Delon Wright looked like a steal of a trade last season. The glimpses we saw of him in a Bucks jersey were positive, but he needs to evolve his game. Growing as a transition player could be a step in the right direction.
Bucks need Sims to evolve or he will struggle for minutes
Sims played just 14 regular season games in Milwaukee before missing substantial time due to a thumb injury. As Brook Lopez was struggling to stay with quicker and more athletic bigs, it was clear that Sims was a great fit for the Bucks, particularly paired with Giannis Antetokounmpo.
In the postseason series against Turner and the Indiana Pacers, Sims played 11.6 minutes per game, as he was crucial to their defense, showcasing his ability to switch onto smaller opponents and hold his own.
Last season, Sims averaged just 0.1 fast-break points per game, which ranks him as No. 96 among all centers in the NBA. That may be down to how slow the Bucks were playing last season, but a player with his speed and athleticism at that size should be a much bigger threat in transition. As a team, Milwaukee ranked 27th with just 13.5 fast-break points per game. The new look roster and identity should change this.
As a frontcourt group, the Bucks have everything. Turner and Giannis offer great interior defense, while their offensive games complement each other perfectly. Bobby Portis claims that Milwaukee has one of the best groups of bigs in the NBA, and he will be as important as ever with his energy and hustle off the bench. This is why Sims needs to develop his fast-break game, or he will be left behind.
There is certainly a spot for him, as the defense alongside Giannis makes them a formidable frontcourt pairing. On offense, he needs to develop into more than just a lob threat or cutter. Giannis has shown that developing a mid-range game can open up the game even more, but Sims needs to use his athleticism to his advantage.
With the Bucks expecting to speed the game up with a younger roster, his speed and athleticism should make him a threat in transition. Whether he makes the basket or forces teams into fouling, it's a positive for the team. It can also cause opponents to worry about the fast break, and open up space for the likes of AJ Green and Gary Trent Jr. to shoot open threes should they trail behind the big men.
There is a lot to like about Jericho Sims, and he fits the mold of the new Bucks roster brilliantly. Developing his game is the next step; otherwise, he risks being left out of the rotation completely.