Tyus Jones is among the names linked to the Milwaukee Bucks as they aim to fill their point guard hole in Damian Lillard's absence, per ESPN's Brian Windhorst. While Jones is undeniably a quality player who could help this team, his height, 6-foot-1, makes him a potential liability on defense, a gamble the Milwaukee Bucks may be unable to afford as they look to improve the roster.
Jones could help, but his flaw looms large
Small guards oftentimes have a difficult time on defense because they are put into mismatches by opposing players and taken advantage of. Former Bucks point guard George Hill was a victim of this in the 2022 NBA Playoffs against Boston. Hill was 6-foot-3 and hunted constantly. Jones is 6-foot-1, amplifying the issue even further.
Milwaukee's roster had plenty of flaws last season, but one positive was the tall, lengthy guards they brought in, such as Ryan Rollins. At 6-foot-4 with a 6-foot-9.75 wingspan, Rollins has the height and length to be a versatile defender, switching between matchups. That's the ideal archetype for guards in today's NBA. The Milwaukee Bucks need more of those over small guards.
To be clear, Jones could absolutely help Milwaukee in some regards. He's one of the best guards in the business when it comes to facilitating well without turning the ball over. The Bucks could use a smart ball-handler to avoid the disastrous possessions that often plagued them last year. Jones is also a great long-range shooter, shooting 41.4 percent over the last two NBA seasons.
If it's on a minimum deal, Jones wouldn't be the worst pickup. At 29, he's still fairly young and would be a solid name to give the Milwaukee Bucks depth at point guard. That could be especially crucial with Kevin Porter Jr. reportedly set to decline his player option. Whether or not Jones could be the starting point guard is up for debate; he could certainly be a nice backup.
Windhorst mentions that two other point guards linked to the Milwaukee Bucks are Dennis Schroder and Malcolm Brogdon. Both are older than Jones and could also be worth exploring. With Lillard out, plenty of free agent point guards will likely look to come to Milwaukee to earn playing time next to Giannis in hopes of cashing out next summer. Time will tell who they ultimately bring aboard.
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