Milwaukee Bucks' best kept secrets make NBA Champion expendable

Preparing for his first full season as the head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks, Doc Rivers will have an assortment of talent to choose from when crafting his rotations.

Obviously, players like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton and Damian Lillard will all be featured heavily, as will Bobby Portis, Gary Trent Jr. and Brook Lopez. However, one question is whether or not he will implement more youth into the mix. Last season, he was met with no shortage of criticism for relying too heavily on veterans while keeping young players glued to the bench. That must change.

It's time for Doc Rivers to utilize Milwaukee's two best kept secrets.

Highlighting the importance of two Bucks youngsters

Under Rivers, both AJ Green and Andre Jackson Jr. saw occasional minutes, but they were never able to fully crack the rotation. It was consistently a frustrating tease from Rivers, as it was clear that these two youngsters could help spark some life into the oldest team in the league. They are two well-kept secrets, as many people outside of Milwaukee are likely unfamiliar with them.

Green, 24, provided assistance on the perimeter, lighting it up from 3-point range. The shooting guard has knocked down a blistering 41.2 percent of his career triples, showing that he can space the floor for Milwaukee's other stars, such as Antetokounmpo and Lillard. He's one of the best shooters on the entire roster, and both he and the Bucks could benefit from a larger opportunity in the rotation.

As a rookie, 22-year-old Jackson didn't stuff the stat sheet, but he always injected a dose of intensity into the game whenever he checked in. Whether he was flying high for a rebound, throwing down an eye-popping putback dunk or just simply getting back in transition, it was clear to anyone watching that the youngster could help this team.

These Bucks make an NBA Champion expendable

If either of these two will earn more minutes, someone has to lose them. In all likelihood, that player would be Pat Connaughton. An NBA Champion with Milwaukee in 2021, Connaughton has struggled to rekindle that same level of play over the past two seasons, clearly having taken a step back. His shot isn't as pure, his defense has regressed and he just hasn't shown his previous leaping ability.

Given the current needs of the roster, one may argue that Green or Jackson moving up in the rotation would be better for the Bucks, especially considering the difference in pay - Connaughton is set to make $9.4 million this coming year, while Green and Jackson will earn just over $4 million combined.

At this point, Connaughton's hefty contract, decline in production and the roster having several other players at the same position make him the likeliest Milwaukee Buck to be traded. It might not be anytime soon, as the market is bare right now, but if a deal pops up, the presence of these two may make Milwaukee more comfortable when considering moving the veteran.

Unless Connaughton is poised for a comeback story for the ages in 2024-25, the Milwaukee Bucks may want to introduce their two best kept secrets to the world over him. The Bucks clearly believe in Green, as they held him out of Summer League when he very well could have played. Their thoughts on Jackson are not so clear, but they have to see the potential.

To be clear, the young players are not without their faults. Green didn't dazzle when given a shot to play in the postseason, and Jackson certainly has a proneness to foul. However, they're young, and the best way to grow is by being on the basketball court, especially around other great players. The potential is there for both players to blossom into success stories rather quickly.

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