The Milwaukee Bucks are loaded at the guard position in terms of depth. For months, we have talked about how many talented backcourt players they have, and that chatter is only growing louder during the preseason. Though most of it has centered around players like Brayden Burries, Ryan Rollins, and Tyler Herro, even the two-way players got in on the action in the latest preseason game.
Jones, Ryan show they can also help
Against the Chicago Bulls, Taylor Jenkins let all the players further down on the depth chart run loose as he sat many veterans. That gave Kam Jones and Cormac Ryan an extended opportunity to display what they bring to the table. Both are undeniably talented guards, and they showed exactly why they cannot be forgotten about in Milwaukee's backcourt with strong showings.
Jones, a Marquette product who is thrilled to be back in Wisconsin, was fantastic off the bench as he poured in 23 points, four rebounds, an assist, and a steal while shooting 64.3 percent. Whether Jones attacked the hoop on a cut or pulled up for a jumper, he was in an excellent groove, showing off that scoring ability that Wisconsin fans remember from his college days.
Ryan, on the other hand, picked up right where he left off following last season's breakout campaign, tallying 14 points, six rebounds, and a steal off the bench. The wing's quick trigger on his perimeter shots was a noticeable strength last season, and he showed that it's not going anywhere. It was great to see him active on the glass, flexing that competitive fire he's known to play with.
The Milwaukee Bucks didn't get the win, but seeing these two-way players put together impressive showings was a great silver lining.
Bucks' guard jam looms large
As things stand, Jones and Ryan aren't slated to be key pieces for the Milwaukee Bucks this season, largely due to the sheer number of guards in town. However, that could potentially change as roster cutdowns loom large. Considering they are both on two-way deals, Jones and Ryan are both safe, as the cuts will come from the standard roster.
If the Milwaukee Bucks part with one or two guards to trim the roster, it becomes far easier to imagine either player earning a promotion in due time. For now, though, the Bucks still need to find time for a combination of Ryan Rollins, Tyler Herro, Kevin Porter Jr., Brayden Burries, AJ Green, Gary Trent Jr., and possibly Caris LeVert and Kasparas Jakucionis.
No one could fault Taylor Jenkins for having a tough time finding minutes for his two-way players amid that jam. Still, showings like this are a nice reminder that the team has legitimate depth if they ever need another body in the backcourt. From top to bottom, the sheer amount of talented guards the Bucks have is impressive.
Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis.
Add us as a preferred source on Google