It’s no secret that the Milwaukee Bucks have struggled with athleticism in the frontcourt this season. For what feels like the entire season thus far, they've been dominated by competition that just looks like it wants it more.
Brook Lopez and Bobby Portis may have been slow and steady veterans for the Bucks in the past, but these days, they’re not exactly sprinting down the court or skying for rebounds the way some younger big men in the league can. They’re noticeably lacking the lateral quickness and bounce that can make a difference against younger, faster teams.
Portis brings intensity and a bit of range, while Lopez’s shot-blocking instincts and defensive positioning have been invaluable, but neither can claim to be the type of athlete that can effectively switch onto faster wings or get to loose balls.
Milwaukee’s recent games have highlighted this weakness in a glaring fashion. They’re not getting beaten just by talent—they’re getting beaten by speed. And in the modern NBA, the need for agility, particularly in transition and on help defense, has never been more critical.
As Milwaukee finds itself in the unfamiliar position of a slow season start, they may not need to look beyond their established rotations to fill this need for fresh legs and energy. The answer could be sitting right there on the bench: Tyler Smith.
Milwaukee's intriguing young prospect ticks a number of boxes
Smith, a near seven-foot forward with a reported wingspan of 7-foot-1, might possess the athleticism that Milwaukee desperately needs.
He’s raw, sure, but what he lacks in polish, he makes up for in speed, length, and energy. Though he found himself struggling to shoot the basketball during the preseason, he also averaged almost six rebounds a night (which are more boards than Lopez is snatching in the regular season) on top of half a steal and half a block.
At the G-League level, he was noted for being an active presence in the paint, showing flashes of elite-level rebounding and shot-blocking potential, and he’s no stranger to putting down quick buckets around the rim. He may be just the type of player who can step up and provide that spark Milwaukee is missing in the frontcourt.
In his brief stints on the court, Smith has demonstrated impressive hustle, showing a willingness to crash the boards and close out on shooters—two things Milwaukee needs if they want to regain their defensive identity.
His admittedly rookie numbers are a far cry from Lopez’s floor-stretching 3-point range or Portis’ bruising presence, but with the two not exactly playing their best either, sometimes the energy of a hungry and young player is exactly what a team needs to bring balance to the rotation.
Allowing Smith to play more minutes could enable Doc Rivers to mix up his defensive schemes, introducing an athletic shot-blocking presence that can switch, hedge and contest without the limitations Portis and Lopez face.
Past rotations suggest Rivers may already be looking Smith's way
There are signs that indicate it is at the very least possible that Doc Rivers may be leaning into this very adjustment.
In their last few outings, Rivers has experimented with lineups that gave younger players like Andre Jackson Jr., AJ Green and even Ryan Rollins more minutes—an indication that he’s open to tapping into Milwaukee’s youthful energy as he searches for solutions. Smith’s presence on the court not only gives the Bucks a needed injection of speed but also opens up opportunities for fresher, more dynamic defensive setups.
Giving Smith more time isn’t just a short-term fix; it’s an investment in Milwaukee’s long-term competitiveness in a time where they simply look like an inferior but finished product. Developing Smith now will allow him to hone his instincts alongside veterans like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard and Lopez, creating a solid foundation for future seasons.
The Milwaukee Bucks are looking to build a team capable of sustaining a championship run, and that can’t happen if they don’t give minutes to emerging players.
The Bucks don’t need to look outside the organization to address their frontcourt problem—they just need to look a little further down the bench. Letting Tyler Smith into the rotation might be a bold move, but sometimes that’s exactly what a struggling team needs to turn things around. The young, hungry forward has the tools to deliver the energy and athleticism that Milwaukee’s frontcourt has been missing.
With Smith in the lineup, the Milwaukee Bucks could find themselves with a more balanced rotation, one that keeps pace with even the fastest of foes and provides a pathway to becoming a more resilient, versatile team.
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