3 Bucks who could earn final starting spot, 3 who should be ruled out
By Dalton Sell
With training camp nearing, one question the Milwaukee Bucks will have to answer in time is who the fifth starter will be.
Though the answer may seem obvious due to one particular signing, nothing has been set in stone by Doc Rivers just yet. As camp gets underway, players will have the opportunity to showcase their skills and show why they deserve to start. With all of that said, let us highlight three Bucks who have a case to start and three who should be out of the equation.
In the mix - Gary Trent Jr.
Trent is the safest bet to be Milwaukee's fifth starter, and for good reason. The newcomer is incredibly talented, particularly as a floor spacer. A career 38.6 percent 3-point shooter, Trent should thrive if he were to start alongside Milwaukee's other starters due to the sheer number of quality looks he'd earn on a nightly basis. This five-man group could possibly fuel a career year for the shooting guard.
The factor that will make or break Trent's case to start is his defense. Damian Lillard requires a partner in the backcourt who can take pressure off of him defensively, and there are questions about whether Trent can play that role, as he's never been a stout defender. If he impresses defensively in camp, the wing could silence any notion of anyone else claiming the starting gig.
Out of the mix - Pat Connaughton
Due to his continuity with this roster and the starters, Pat Connaughton cannot be dismissed in the starting two-guard hunt. However, unless he flat-out dazzles in camp and the preseason, it seems unlikely that Connaughton could leap past Trent or several of the other names on this list. He's never been a consistent starter in his career, and it's unlikely he'll start now.
Connaughton will have to fight for a role in the rotation as a whole, let alone as a starter this season. With his struggles persisting over the past two years, there are questions as to how much he has to give, and there are plenty of people who think the Bucks should move Connaughton in a trade or swap him in the rotation for a younger player. This is a make-or-break year for Pat Connaughton.