Ranking 5 Milwaukee Bucks who need more minutes amid abysmal 2-8 start

At 2-8, something clearly isn't working for the Milwaukee Bucks.

Doc Rivers has been changing his rotations constantly trying to find any answers, and some of the moves have worked better than others. As he aims to get the team on the right track, let us rank a handful of Milwaukee Bucks players based on which should be earning more minutes.

No. 5 - Tyler Smith

The Milwaukee Bucks are suffering from a lack of athleticism and quickness, and two of the primary culprits for that are Brook Lopez and Bobby Portis. If the opposing big man has even a semblance of speed or can stretch the floor, it gives these two trouble. In an attempt to patch this issue, the Bucks should experiment with rookie big man Tyler Smith.

Heading into the NBA Draft, the 6-foot-11 Smith was known for his athletic ability and sweet outside shooting. Those are two things that could help him fit well with this Milwaukee team. Having turned 20 years old recently, no one should expect Smith to be perfect, but just his sheer athletic ability could be a nice addition to this rotation, even if it is a minimal role. At this point, Rivers might as well try.

No. 4 - Delon Wright

It's almost surprising how quickly Delon Wright was removed from Milwaukee's rotation. Sure, he had a poor start to the season, but so has this entire team. Once thought to be a huge free agent signing to give this team a versatile backup point guard who would fit right in, Delon Wright's tenure with the Milwaukee Bucks has been rocky to this point.

There's still a chance Wright could help this bench brigade. He has the physical tools to hold up on the defensive end, and Milwaukee's bench, which ranks 28th in the NBA in assists per game, could use an experienced facilitator. As a combo guard, Wright can play both the point and shooting guard positions, and that versatility could be useful when crafting lineups.

No. 3 - Ryan Rollins

Taking over for Delon Wright has been Ryan Rollins, the third-year two-way guard. While the young guard has had his share of ups and downs since taking the reigns, he has unquestionably flashed a good bit of potential despite playing just 5.8 minutes per game on the year. The coaching staff must think they have something special with Rollins, so getting him even more involved would make sense.

In his limited minutes, Rollins has flexed his potential on both ends. Against Boston recently, he tallied three blocked shots, showing defensive awareness and impressive athletic ability. He has the tools to be an impact player on that end as he develops. Offensively, he is still very much a work in progress, but the Milwaukee Bucks should mold him. Ryan Rollins has hidden gem written all over him.

No. 2 - Andre Jackson Jr.

After starting the season out of the rotation, Andre Jackson Jr. received a promotion into the starting lineup as Doc Rivers tried to find a spark. While the wing has had some mishaps (to be expected from a sophomore), his impact has largely been positive. Yet, Rivers still clearly doesn't trust him fully, and it might be time to let him off the leash.

The ever-athletic Jackson has made a clear impact defensively, as opposing players have shot just 38.3 percent (18-of-47) with him as their primary defender. That is the best on the team among the players steadily in the rotation. The fouls and turnovers are still an issue, but the Bucks simply don't have many other defenders like this; they certainly don't have as many pure athletes.

No. 1 - AJ Green

It's unbelievable that AJ Green was not in the rotation to start the season. Doc Rivers has seen the error of his ways and gotten the guard more involved lately, thankfully. Currently, Green is shooting a red-hot 60.5 percent from downtown. That's the best percentage in the entire NBA among players who have attempted at least 15 triples this season. Milwaukee badly needs that perimeter shooting.

While he's primarily known for his shooting, Green has also shown lately that he packs a punch on defense. Opposing players have shot 25-of-57 (42.1 percent) with Green as their main defender, the second-best on the team among players who have taken the floor in at least eight matchups. Green's two-way presence off the bench is needed, and he should be given Pat Connaughton's time.

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