Pat Connaughton thrived in his first revenge game against the Milwaukee Bucks since being traded in the summer. Although he's definitely in the twilight of his career, he had a vintage performance with 11 points in 11 minutes off the bench and helped the Hornets pick up an easy win.
Pat Connaughton can still turn back the clock
In his limited minutes off the bench on Wednesday, Connaughton turned in a classic 3-and-D performance. His scoring came efficiently, as he shot 4-of-6 from the field and 2-of-4 from deep. It was a reminder of the key two-way role that he played in Milwaukee for seven seasons.
Connaughton got up a few threes over his former longtime teammate Bobby Portis, as well as a couple of drives to the rim past the Bucks' perimeter defenders. His veteran saviness was on full display in his crafty finishes and clever playmaking. As Connaughton has aged, his once-lauded athleticism has waned, but he's made up for it with skill and experience.
This season, Connaughton is proving that he can still be effective playing in a high-octane offense for short bursts. Although he's only playing eight minutes per game and averaging four points per outing, he's been extremely efficient. He is shooting 58 percent from the field and 45 percent from three - impressive splits in his age-33 season.
Connaughton would fit in very well with the current Bucks offense. The Bucks are playing with a high pace and emphasizing perimeter shooting, which have always been strengths for him. Although Connaughton can't jump as high or run as fast as his prime, his decision-making has never been better. He's moving the ball quickly and helping the flow of Charlotte's offense every time he's on the floor.
However, the Bucks don't have any major regrets about trading Connaughton. He was not necessarily traded because of his own poor performance, but rather as a salary dump to clear up space for other free agents, most notably Myles Turner.
It was part of a larger offseason trend to make desperate moves in an attempt to keep superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo happy at all costs.
Keeping Giannis on the team is always the number one priority, and the Bucks felt that their best option for building a contender around him was to get off Connaughton's contract. Although Connaughton may have gotten the best of them on Wednesday night, the Bucks have felt good about their offseason moves so far. The team is standing pat at 7-5 as a dangerous playoff contender in the Eastern Conference.