Wenyen Gabriel
Though he has a lot of NBA experience, having played for seven teams, Wenyen Gabriel has never played for the Milwaukee Bucks, despite being a Wisconsin Herd staple over the past few years.
Fans, particularly this writer, had been beating the drum for the team to give Gabriel a legitimate look, primarily when the team needed a big man in 2021-22 when Brook Lopez underwent back surgery. Even before the Bucks signed Danilo Gallinari earlier this season to shore up their frontcourt depth, many wanted Gabriel to get that final roster spot.
The appeal with Gabriel is clear. At 6-foot-9, he's a versatile big man who can play either center or power forward, which would give a team added versatility. For a team like Milwaukee, he'd fit nicely alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo, pairing him with another versatile big who can play the four in the team's small-ball lineups.
In terms of making the leap to the NBA, many will point out the Gabriel has already suited up for seven teams and still has not been able to stick. It should be noted that outside of the 2022-23 season, the most games he played in a single season was 30. In 2022-23, he took the court in 68 games with the Los Angeles Lakers and played some quality basketball in a legitimate role.
With the Lakers, Gabriel showed that he could serve as a second-unit sparkplug, primarily due to his endless motor. He was always hustling, scoring down low, blocking shots and skying high for boards. Many teams could use that type of boost off of their bench, especially a team like the Bucks, who have struggled at times due to sluggish second-unit play.
As someone who has put in considerable work with the Wisconsin Herd, it would be nice to see the recently-turned 27-year-old get another full-time shot in the NBA next season.