3 Upgrades the Milwaukee Bucks made to their roster this offseason
By Dalton Sell
Barring an out-of-left-field transaction, the Milwaukee Bucks have likely put the finishing touches on their roster for the upcoming season.
After being bombarded with constant criticism over the last year due to Milwaukee's roster issues - which were largely caused by the timing of the Damian Lillard trade - general manager Jon Horst set out to retool this roster to fit better, and he did so marvelously. On paper, this 18-man group already fits together much better than last year's group.
That said, let's analyze why exactly that is by breaking down three upgrades they made.
Jae Crowder to Taurean Prince
It feels safe to categorize Milwaukee's 2023 trade for Jae Crowder as a swing and a miss. During his season-and-a-half with the team, the hope was that Crowder could be the versatile veteran 3-and-D forward the Bucks so desperately needed. They clearly thought he could push them over the edge, having given up a whopping five second-round picks to get the deal done. Yet, it didn't quite work out.
In the NBA Playoffs, where the team needed Crowder the most, he appeared in eight games over two seasons, averaging 10.4 minutes per contest. In those minutes, he averaged a line of two points, 1.3 rebounds and 0.6 assists while shooting 24 percent from the floor and 7.7 percent (!!!) from distance. He just never lived up to the expectations the Milwaukee Bucks had for him.
Taurean Prince, a forward the Bucks added on a minimum deal earlier this offseason, will take over Crowder's role in the rotation. On paper, the two share plenty of similarities as 6-foot-6 forwards who are known for their perimeter shooting and defense. However, there's little controversy in saying that Prince, who is nearly four years younger than Crowder, is the better player at this stage.
Over the last two years, Prince has averaged nine points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.5 assists per matchup while shooting 45.2 percent from the floor and 39.1 percent from three. In that same span, Crowder averaged 6.4 points, 3.4 boards and 1.4 assists while shooting 43.7 percent from the floor and 37.1 percent from deep. Prince has the edge statistically.
If Taurean Prince can play the role the Milwaukee Bucks thought they'd be getting from Jae Crowder when they forfeited five second round picks to get him, his importance will know no bounds.