Kel'el Ware's impressive preseason had Milwaukee Bucks fans excited to see what he could do when the real action began. Well, his Bucks debut left much to be desired, as the big man struggled before fouling out in under 14 minutes of action. If this continues, Jericho Sims will no longer just be a luxury as the team's third-string big man; he will be a necessity.
Bucks vindicated for keeping Sims
Prior to cutting Kevin Porter Jr. to set their roster in stone, Jericho Sims' name was floating around in the rumor mill. The Stein Line's Jake Fischer (subscription required) reported that the Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers had discussed a deal that would have sent Sims to LA. Nothing ever transpired, and it looks like that will be a good thing for the Bucks.
Ware might not foul out of every game, but it's clear that fouling less is something he needs to work on before he's ready to take over the center position. There will likely be plenty of instances in which he gets in trouble. Rather than running Myles Turner into the ground in those minutes, the Bucks can throw Sims out there to eat up time at center.
Had the Bucks traded Sims, their third-stringer would have been Pete Nance. While he's proven to be a nice rotational piece for the squad, Nance is more of a traditional forward. Opposing centers would give him trouble on a consistent basis if the Bucks made him a full-time center. With Sims, they don't have to worry about that.
Sims can be a productive piece
Though he's the third-string big man, Sims is still useful. He's incredibly productive as a rebounder, using his sturdy build and eye-popping athleticism to gobble up boards inside. Offensively, he won't space the floor like Ware can, but he's a dominant lob threat inside and keeps defenses on their toes at all times. Quietly, he's one of the best third-stringers NBA-wide at the position.
Sure, the trade with Los Angeles to net the Milwaukee Bucks some draft capital for Sims may have been nice to replenish the asset cabinet, but they team may have already been kicking themselves had they gone through with it. Now, they can sleep easier knowing they have a quality big man who can immediately step into the game if their backup gets into trouble at any point.
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