1 Versatile lineup combination that could be Bucks' secret weapon this season

With a retooled roster, Doc Rivers will have plenty of intriguing lineup combinations at his fingertips as he leads Milwaukee Bucks this coming season.

Two attributes last year's roster lacked when Rivers took over as the head coach were versatility and defense. While the trade deadline acquisition of guard Patrick Beverley helped, it certainly was not enough to salvage Milwaukee's season. Now, Rivers can get more creative when throwing out lineups, and a particular one could be a secret weapon for the Bucks if he dares to try it out.

Bucks must try Lillard, Wright, Jackson, Prince and Antetokounmpo

Small-ball has proven to be an impactful approach for the Milwaukee Bucks in recent memory. While Brook Lopez is great, there are particular situations where rolling with Giannis Antetokounmpo at the center spot makes the Bucks all the more lethal. When they have the proper parts, these lineups can be the most versatile pairings the team has to offer.

Last year, they couldn't really utilize this much due to the abundance of ill-fitting parts on the roster. Now, they can.

To make this lineup work, the Bucks need defenders who can switch onto almost anyone on the other side of the floor. It's no secret that Antetokounmpo can do that, but they now have two role players in Delon Wright and Taurean Prince who also can. Wright and Prince are both lengthy defenders able to hold their own against a handful of different players, allowing the Bucks to switch heavily.

While Damian Lillard isn't a robust defender, having players like Wright and Prince in the lineup next to him will take significant pressure off of him. This would allow Lillard to focus more on his offense while the other players tackle the tough defensive assignments, a luxury he wasn't afforded much during his first year in Milwaukee.

The big question mark in this scenario is Andre Jackson Jr. In brief spurts, the wing showed potential to be everything the Milwaukee Bucks needed off the bench last year as a high-flying athlete capable of leaping out of the gym for a putback dunk or block. At 6-foot-6 with a near 6-foot-10 wingspan, he is another lengthy wing who can flat-out hound opponents.

Is Jackson ready for a big role in year two? Just about every Bucks fan will tell you yes, and justifiably so, given what he showed as a rookie. If the soon-to-be sophomore can get his proneness to foul under contract while continuing to shoot the long ball well, he should be guaranteed a spot in the rotation under Doc Rivers. He has all of the physical tools to thrive in this lineup defensively.

In addition to defense, this lineup requires strong perimeter shooting to better space the floor for Giannis Antetokounmpo. Damian Lillard is one of the best shooters in the NBA, so there's no doubt with him there. Wright has shot 35.4 percent from deep for his career, and Prince is at 37.6 percent, so they have to respected. Jackson shot 37 percent as a rookie, so he can space the floor well.

On paper, this lineup checks all of the boxes. It's got tough individual defenders, perimeter shooting, two all-world scorers and a lethal small-ball center. The success of this lineup relies primarily on the year two development of Andre Jackson Jr., but if he can indeed take a step, this could end up being a significant weapon for the Milwaukee Bucks in 2024-25.

Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis.