From the moment the Milwaukee Bucks waived two-way point guard Mark Sears, Dillon Jones felt like the most logical replacement. However, days went by, and nothing happened. Now, Jones is not there for Milwaukee to acquire anymore, as the New York Knicks have reportedly signed the small forward to a two-way contract. Time will tell how the Milwaukee Bucks fill their still-vacant two-way spot.
Knicks sign Dillon Jones, who would have made sense for Bucks
The obvious case for Jones in Milwaukee would have revolved around him being a small forward. With Taurean Prince likely out for the year and Amir Coffey disappointing, Milwaukee has been rolling out a lineup with a shooting guard at the three spot for most of the year. After a recent lineup change, they now have Kyle Kuzma playing there, and he's a natural power forward.
The Weber State alum was a first-round pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, so he's still young and brimming with no shortage of potential. He didn't play much during his rookie season, largely because he was on the NBA's most dominant roster in the title-winning OKC Thunder, but his play in the G League showcases a player who can perform when given the opportunity.
Jones wouldn't come in and be an immediate rotational piece, but the Milwaukee Bucks could have aimed to develop him into one. It wouldn't be strange, given that the Bucks have had a recent string of successful two-way players, including Ryan Rollins and AJ Green, who are now standard rotational players. Pete Nance certainly looks like he could join them very soon.
The Milwaukee Bucks have a chance to add someone who could become an impact player over time.
With Jones gone, they will have to look elsewhere. Where should they look? The Bucks will leave no stone unturned in their search, but it's likely that they look internally, as they have a handful of nice pieces on their G League squad, the Wisconsin Herd. Cormac Ryan has been playing incredibly well. Johnny Davis was a top 10 pick a few years back. Perhaps they see some value in developing them.
Unless they see a bona fide diamond in the rough, the Milwaukee Bucks will likely wait until the 2026 NBA Trade Deadline passes to see where their roster stands. Whether they need a guard, forward, or center, they would have a two-way spot to bring in additional support. It's likely that they play the waiting game over the next couple of weeks.
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