With training camp and the preseason rapidly approaching, the Milwaukee Bucks were expected to start filling out their available roster spots for the festivities any day now.
That day has arrived. Per The Athletic's Eric Nehm, the Bucks have brought in both James Akinjo and Liam Robbins to Exhibit 10 contracts. Let us analyze what they both will bring to the table as they join the Milwaukee Bucks for training camp and the preseason.
James Akinjo and Liam Robbins are nice additions to the Bucks
Akinjo is no stranger to Wisconsin. The point guard appeared in 14 contests with the Wisconsin Herd, G-League affiliate of the Bucks, last season, showing off some potential. In 21.3 minutes per game, he averaged 9.7 points, 3.9 assists, 2.3 rebounds and a steal per game while shooting 57.1 percent from 3-point territory.
There's plenty to like about Akinjo. He's a shifty, sweet-shooting guard who can take it to the hoop or let it fly from distance to put points on the board. He's also a very gifted passer, having made plenty of highlights this past season with the Herd. Keeping him with the Wisconsin Herd is a smart move, and bringing him to camp via an Exhibit 10 contract will allow them to do that.
Learning from a point guard room of Damian Lillard and Delon Wright could do the guard good as he looks to make a name for himself.
On that same front, 7-footer and Wisconsin native Liam Robbins gets to learn from a frontcourt room that consists of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Brook Lopez and Bobby Portis. That experience may do the 25-year-old a lot of good as he looks to carve out a stable home for himself.
Throughout his five-year stay in college, Robbins earned himself plenty of accolades, including SEC Defensive Player of the Year and MVC All-Defensive Team. Averaging 2.4 blocks per game during that timeframe, including an eye-popping 3.2 per contest during his final collegiate season, the big man has a knack for playing defense close to the hoop, something the Milwaukee Bucks love.
The young big man should stick close to Brook Lopez to pick his brain, particularly with his perimeter shot. Robbins has never been a strong outside shooter at his size, but Brook Lopez wasn't either until he got to Milwaukee. Robbins should aim to get some pointers about improving his own shot.
Neither of these players will make Milwaukee's standard roster, but this will allow them to stick with the organization and join the Herd in Oshkosh, allowing them to develop further while being in the back pocket of the Milwaukee Bucks if they ever needed depth.
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