When the blockbuster deal sending Giannis Antetokounmpo to South Beach finally dropped, the outside consensus on Milwaukee’s new offensive hierarchy formed within seconds: Tyler Herro was more than likely going to be the guy once he went back home to Milwaukee. As the assumed next best player on the Bucks, he was the de facto heir apparent to take the Bucks through the aftermath of the Giannis era.
But just two preseason games in, it's looking like it's already time to rethink those assumptions.
Preseason games have shown these are Ryan Rollins' Milwaukee Bucks now
Tyler Herro was the established marquee bucket-getter coming back in the trade, carrying an electric highlight reel, big-game postseason chops, and a hefty nine-figure contract. On a rebuilding roster suddenly devoid of star power, fans and pundits naturally anointed Herro as the next man up to the franchise’s usage throne. He was penciled in as the clear-cut primary initiator who would command the offense while the youngsters found their footing under Taylor Jenkins. The opportunity was there and it was his for the taking.
Except nobody bothered to give Ryan Rollins the script. And now he's playing like someone chasing the money that he knows he deserves.
Through the opening stretch of preseason play, the assumed backcourt pecking order has completely flipped on its head. While Herro has drifted through stretches trying to locate his rhythm in a new environment, Rollins has walked onto the floor with the unbridled confidence of a lead guard who has already decided this locker room belongs to him. He's put up 13.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game through his first two preseason appearances on 58 percent shooting including 40 percent from deep.
It’s not just about the raw box score numbers, either. It’s the poise, the command, and the distinct gravity Rollins brings every time he touches the rock.
Where Herro has occasionally looked caught between hunting his own jumper and deferring to Jenkins' ball-movement principles, Rollins looks completely in his element. In two games, he's brought a defensive bite and a two-way mentality that sets the exact tone Jenkins demands. When your primary ball-handler picks up 94 feet and scraps on the glass, the rest of the team falls in line. Herro gives you professional scoring punch, but Rollins is dictating the actual heartbeat of the unit.
Tyler Herro has time to prove his worth to Taylor Jenkins and the coaching staff
The preseason is always a dangerous time to draw sweeping conclusions, but the eye test doesn't lie when it comes to body language and organizational command.
Herro arrived in the 414 with the name recognition and the contract of a certified top option. And that level of talent doesn't go away easily, especially once it's had more time to gel with the rest of the team. But if this early sample is telling us anything, it's that Jon Horst and Taylor Jenkins might not have to look far for their true backcourt alpha.
This writer has called for trading Herro the moment a favorable offer materializes, and Ryan Rollins is the reason why. He's playing like a guy who knows the keys are already in his pocket. If these games dating back to last season are of any indication, he has zero intention of handing them over.
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