After struggling so mightily to guard just about anyone last season, the Milwaukee Bucks knew they needed more perimeter defenders on the roster.
General manager Jon Horst wasted little time addressing this hole, picking up veteran Delon Wright on a one-year deal worth the veteran's minimum early in free agency. The well-traveled journeyman comes to Milwaukee in search of a championship, and if the Bucks will get there, the guard will have played his part. Let's analyze his 2024-25 role and predict his stats.
Delon Wright will be incredibly valuable to the Bucks
Wright will be Milwaukee's backup point guard from the jump next season. Wright brings boatloads of experience and is more than comfortable taking on ball-handling duties in the second unit. However, he is not a traditional point guard, as Wright can also play the two-guard spot when called upon, and he should see plenty of time at that position as well.
That speaks to the versatility the 6-foot-5 guard brings to the table. His height and length will give this Milwaukee Bucks team a backcourt defender unlike anyone they've employed in recent memory.
The guard's importance will be at its highest when he's on the court with Damian Lillard. There, he'll be tasked with taking on the more difficult matchup in the backcourt, freeing Lillard to go to work on the offensive end. Lillard having that luxury could be just what he needs to help get back to his Portland Trail Blazer form and have a bounce-back year with the Milwaukee Bucks.
Wright's role will primarily revolve around his defensive output, meaning he'll constantly be working on the perimeter and being disruptive by forcing steals. On offense, he won't be asked to carry a ton of the workload, but if he can facilitate and shoot the long-ball on occasion, two things he's known to do, then he will be successful.
2024-25 stat prediction: 18.3 minutes, 5.6 points, 2.7 assists, 2.1 rebounds, 1.4 steals, 0.3 blocks, 44.2 percent field goal shooting, 36.7 percent 3-point shooting, 82.5 percent free throw shooting.
On paper, these numbers might not look the flashiest, but the Milwaukee Bucks didn't sign Wright to be a stat-sheet stuffer. They need the guard to be a menace in his defensive matchups, and if he can do that, all of the other stats will be a nice bonus. This could end up being a homerun signing by the Milwaukee Bucks and Jon Horst.
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