Milwaukee Bucks: How Will The Bench Look?

As the preseason begins, let’s take a look at who will be coming off the bench and making an impact for the Milwaukee Bucks this season.

Dec 7, 2015; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks center Greg Monroe (15) and guard Michael Carter-Williams (5) celebrate following a basket during the fourth quarter against the Portland Trail Blazers at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Milwaukee won 90-88. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

After plenty of offseason moves and injuries, the Milwaukee Bucks have seen a lot of changes in their bench for this season. With the additions of Malcolm Brogdon, Jason Terry, Michael Beasley, Mirza Teletovic, and Thon Maker, the team dynamic will look a lot different. The team added plenty of shooting and some intriguing young talent.

There are a lot of interesting storylines to follow when the starters take a rest this season, most notably the play of Thon Maker. After being selected 10th overall in June, Maker is one of the most intriguing rookies in the NBA, due to his history as a YouTube sensation and his age controversy.

Without Khris Middleton, the work of new guards Malcolm Brogdon and Jason Terry will be closely monitored to see who can pick up the production he leaves behind. Although not a newcomer, Michael Carter-Williams will be called upon to do much of the distributing duties on the second unit, and he should be prepared to answer that call.

Another interesting story could be the stockpile of centers on the roster. With Miles Plumlee in the starting lineup and Greg Monroe/John Henson coming off the bench, there is an abundance of talent at that position. The distribution of minutes among those three will be a huge issue for head coach Jason Kidd, and watching that play out throughout the season will be very interesting.

With the preseason starting, let’s check out the many bench options that Milwaukee has entering the year.

Feb 5, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Michael Carter-Williams (5) dribbles up the court during the first quarter against the Utah Jazz at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports

Michael Carter-Williams

Despite winning Rookie of the Year in 2013, Michael Carter-Williams has settled down in his career and become a solid player. For the first time in his NBA career, MCW will be coming off the bench this year from day 1. Still, he seems like the type of player who could be a great fit in Milwaukee.

For the most part, the Bucks are centered around prized youngster Giannis Antetokounmpo. With Giannis as the primary ball handler with the first unit, MCW is an awesome option to be his backup. Both players have similar play styles of attacking the basket and dishing out for assists, while also lacking a reliable three-point shot.

The fact that the Bucks are built around an athletic, tall point guard, it just makes sense for them to also have an athletic, tall point guard running the second unit.

Strengths

At 6’6″, Carter-Williams has the huge advantage of being able to see and pass over most of his defenders. His ability to find his teammates for baskets is shown by his 26.6 Assist Percentage. Although his usage rate has decreased since his rookie year, MCW has never finished a season with less than five assists per game. Along with his passing ability, Carter-Williams is an above average rebounder for the point guard position, averaging over five per game for his career.

Defensively, MCW is quite serviceable. His length allows him to cover shooting guards as well as point guards, which makes him a versatile player, especially for the Bucks. He is reasonably quick, and has a great knack for creating turnovers, as evident by being the team leader in steal percentage at 2.5 percent. Along with a surprising number of blocks by the point guard, he is a valuable player for the Bucks’ bench.

Weaknesses

The gaping hole in MCW’s game is his three-point shooting. For his career, Carter-Williams has shot 25.5 percent from three, a dismal rate for a guard. Because of his poor shooting, defenses tend to not pick him up until the free throw line, making it very difficult for him to penetrate the lane. Without his ability to drive, MCW struggles both scoring and passing, causing him to make mistakes.

In a related matter, Carter-Williams has far too many turnovers while handling the ball. Last season, he turned the ball over on 19.6 percent of his possessions. And for a player with a usage rate like MCW (21.3 percent), that turnover rate is even more of a negative.

Lastly, his free throw percentage is worrying for a guard. With a free throw percentage of 65.4 last season, he is not one to rely upon down the stretch of a ball game. He does a fair enough job reaching the line, but his success rate once getting there needs work. Without an improvement in his three-point shooting, decision-making, and free throw percentage, MCW could be in for a long season coming off the bench.

Malcolm Brogdon

Entering his rookie season, Malcolm Brogdon will be a key player for the Bucks. Without Khris Middleton, there is not an abundance of guards on this team, leading them to need an increase in production from those currently on the roster. Brogdon had a very successful career while at Virginia, and hopefully he can translate that success to the NBA.

As the reigning ACC Player of the Year, Brogdon is entering the league as a second-round draft pick. The 23-year-old brings a lot of experience for a rookie and should be able to contribute right away off the bench.

Strengths

In college, defense was Brogdon’s biggest strength. Despite the increase in speed and athleticism in the NBA game, Brogdon was among the best defenders in college basketball in his career and should be ready. At 6’5″, Brogdon has solid size. Although most likely to see time at the shooting guard position, Brogdon could feasibly see minutes at the point and at small forward.

His ability to make free throws at an extremely impressive rate is a good sign for the Bucks as well. An 89.7 percent free throw shooter in college, Brogdon will be a great addition to a Bucks team that finished 22nd in the NBA in foul line percentage at 74.7 percent a year ago.

Weaknesses

Adjusting to the speed of the NBA game will be a struggle for Brogdon right off the jump. Many rookies are used to the speed of college play, but the NBA really is a whole different animal. The athletes are faster, stronger, and better than those in college. He will need to be eased into his role off the bench so as to make him more comfortable in the new league.

Plus, he has to watch out for that rookie wall. Brogdon is probably going to see 15-20 minutes per game and he will need to stay fresh and rested. The rookie wall can be detrimental to any new player, but hopefully his extensive experience in college will lead him to avoid it.

Lastly, he needs to figure out his three-pointer. Brogdon was very efficient as a shooter behind the arc in college, but looked lost behind the NBA three-point line in the Las Vegas Summer League.

Milwaukee needs all the shooting they can get, so Brogdon needs to be able to at least hit the open three consistently. Brogdon having a season of over 35 percent would be huge for the Bucks.

Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Jason Terry

The signing of Jason Terry was clearly a move by Milwaukee to acquire a veteran presence off the bench. Now 39-years-old, Terry is not the 20 point per game player he used to be. Although still effective as a three-point shooter (35.6 percent last season), he does not possess the quickness that gave him the nickname “The Jet.”

Still, The Jet is not yet out of gas and could easily see 10-15 minutes for the Bucks this season. With nearly 70 percent of his shots being taken behind the arc, Terry should have no trouble spacing the floor for Milwaukee’s penetrating ball handlers Michael Carter-Williams and Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Strengths

The key strength in Terry’s game is his ability to be a leader. With Khris Middleton out for much of this season, Terry will need to be an influential mentor for the two young guards on the roster. Rashad Vaughn and Malcolm Brogdon do not have much experience with the NBA game, and the impact of Terry on them should be evident while they are on the floor.

When Terry is on the floor, however, he is still a respectable shooter. At 35.6 percent from deep, teams have to account for Terry at all times. Over 90 percent of his threes were off of assists last season while attempting over 40 percent of them from the corner, so you can expect him to spot up there often.

Weaknesses

Obviously, Terry’s age affects his production in several ways. For instance, his defensive game has slipped in recent seasons as his athleticism has waned. Also, he cannot be expected to play high volume minutes.

He can play up to about 20 minutes per game, but any more than that and his efficiency will definitely see a decrease. With several other guards on the roster, Terry should be able to get about 15 minutes a night, which would be right in his wheelhouse.

Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Michael Beasley

Recently acquired forward Michael Beasley is a player who can just flat-out score. His usage rate is off the charts (29.7 percent last year), but he also averaged 25.3 points per 36 minutes. He might have limited NBA experience for a former second overall pick, but Beasley could be a nice fit with Milwaukee.

Without Middleton supplying his point production, the Bucks will need to generate more scoring off the bench, and that is just where Beasley fits in. He was very solid for the Rockets in 20 games last season and that stretch is likely to continue with Milwaukee. Watch out for him to be a high volume performer off the bench.

Strengths

Score. Score. Score. That is just what Beasley does. He might not be an exceptional shooter (career 34.4 percent shooter from deep), but he can attack the rack and finish well. The vast majority of his shot attempts come near the rim, which fits his play style as an athletic power forward. His ability to put the ball in the basket will be a very nice skill off the bench, especially when playing alongside a pass-first point guard like Michael Carter-Williams.

Along with his immense scoring numbers, Beasley is fairly good rebounder as well, snatching 9.7 boards per 36 minutes. Teaming up with Greg Monroe and John Henson down low, that combination should prove to be a menace on the glass for opponents. They all have flaws in their games, but as rebounders, they can be a force.

Weaknesses

That usage rate is enormous. A 29.7 percent usage rate would have been #1 on the Bucks last season by quite a bit (team leader was Greg Monroe at 23.5 percent). With the team leader Monroe on the floor with him, that is a huge amount of possessions taken care of. If he can tone down his usage and become a more efficient scorer, that would greatly benefit the team.

On the other side of the ball, he is not a good defender. The Bucks are hoping to improve defensively after a rough year last year, but Beasley does not help in that regard. He is quite effective offensively, but it is hard for him to play good defense without an imposing rim protector next to him (cue John Henson).

Mirza Teletovic

For a team that was looking to add shooting in the offseason, there isn’t a much better acquisition than sharpshooter Mirza Teletovic. “Telly” is very efficient from deep as well as being accustomed to coming off the bench. Although his health has been an issue throughout his career, he is definitely a huge player off the bench when healthy.

His ongoing battle with blood clots has affected his number of games played throughout his four-year career, but he is coming off of a season in which he averaged 21.3 minutes per game for 79 games. Hopefully that is a sign that he is ready to play another full season this year.

Strengths

After knocking down 39.3 percent of his threes last season, Teletovic is a deadly shooter. In fact, this stretch four is primarily a deep shooter. Almost 60 percent of his total shots were from behind the arc last season, which indicates his high confidence level from out there.

Although he does not often create his own shot (95 percent of those threes were assisted), he does a great job in the catch-and-shoot and pick-and-pop game.

Another advantage for having Teletovic on the team is the chemistry he has with head coach Jason Kidd. Kidd has already coached Teletovic while both were in Brooklyn and they definitely had a positive connection there.

Coming off a career-high in points per game last season with 12.2, Teletovic could easily see another high mark there as well as a career high in minutes per game under Kidd.

Weaknesses

Like Beasley, Teletovic is great on offense, but isn’t the best defender. He is not quite strong enough to guard post players and not quick enough to guard the slashing forwards. He needs a big rim-protector behind him to be hidden in the defensive scheme. Still, his impact on the offensive end is enough to keep him on the floor for extended periods of time.

Lastly, his injury problems are just that: problems. In his first four seasons in the league, he has missed 84 combined games, which is more than a full season. Staying healthy has to be a priority for him, and all Bucks’ fans have to be prepared for the possibility of losing him occasionally.

John Henson

Since coming into the league in 2012, John Henson has been the epitome of efficiency. Though he has never solidified a starting role in Milwaukee, he is a great bench player. With his combined abilities to finish around the rim, rebound, and be a superb shot blocker, Henson is a valuable asset.

After receiving a four-year contract extension last summer, Henson had yet another good season in 2015-2016, despite playing less than 20 minutes per game. However, his minutes are not indicative of a bad thing. Henson’s per-36 minute averages are awesome and sometimes players really are just better when they come off the bench.

With Plumlee as the starting center opening the season, Henson will be paired up with Greg Monroe as the centers off the bench. You can expect Henson to get another season of about 20 minutes per game with extreme efficiency.

Strengths

The biggest part of Henson’s game is his nature of being a rim protector. With his absurd 4.1 blocks per 36 minutes, Henson has shown that he is not an easy player to score on. On a team that has definitely struggled defensively, Henson’s impact on the team is something that cannot be matched.

On the offensive side of the ball, Henson’s efficiency has gotten a lot better. In his rookie season, he held a respectable 48.2 field goal percentage. As for last season, however, his field goal percentage has jumped up to 56.4. Also, with 94.1 percent of his shots coming within 10 feet, Henson knows his strengths on the basketball floor.

Weaknesses

Despite tremendous per 36 minute numbers, Henson is now on his fourth head coach without securing a full-time starting position. This has to show something about a decrease in effort or production over extended minutes. It might be nothing, but he continues to stay down on the depth chart.

Like many big men across the NBA, Henson does not stretch the floor well either. He might know that his strengths are shooting close to the basket, but the fact that he only attempts 4.1 perent of his shots outside 10 feet shows that he is not comfortable stepping out.

Greg Monroe

Despite being one of the biggest free agency signees to ever come to Milwaukee, Monroe was slightly disappointing last season. His numbers stayed relatively similar to those he had in Detroit, but the impact he had on the team was not positive.

With losing Jared Dudley and Zaza Pachulia and the addition of Greg Monroe, the Bucks’ defense had a dramatic drop off from 2015 to 2016. Monroe still has time left on his contract and he will need to prove himself on both ends of the court in order to get his starting job back.

Strengths

Monroe is an incredible talent on the low block. His play style might be going away in today’s NBA, but he is still very relevant to the Bucks. With his high usage rate, the best way for Milwaukee to use Monroe would be to get him the ball down low and just let him go to work.

While getting around 30 minutes per game, Monroe was nearly averaging a double-double (15.3 points/8.8 rebounds) in his first year with the Bucks.

Along with his scoring on the block, Monroe is also a very capable passer. Although his assist numbers are not high, he effectively navigates out of double teams and often times finds the open shooter on the perimeter. With the increase in three-point shooting on the team, Monroe will be more valuable than ever this year.

Weaknesses

Defense is a huge flaw in Monroe’s game. He is not an elite rim protector and despite being a true center, he doesn’t have great size. Monroe is often times exposed by his match-up, which poses a serious threat to the team defense of the Bucks.

In his first six years in the league, he has shown very little improvement in his defensive awareness, so you cannot expect him to increase his productivity on that end of the floor.

Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Thon Maker

The selection of Thon Maker 10th overall by the Milwaukee Bucks this last summer shows that they are continuing to roll with their “Own the Future” theme. In the last four years, the Bucks have selected four first rounders with a total of two years of collegiate play.

Maker was not originally seen as a top-10 pick entering the draft, but that is exactly what the Bucks did. Maker has a tremendous personality and plenty of upside. With the Bucks’ recent success story of Giannis Antetokounmpo, teams around the league should start getting fearful of a lineup containing fully developed Maker and Giannis.

Strengths

Not too much of Maker’s game is known at this point, but he is 7’1″, which presents an extreme height advantage. This height, taken with the fact that he has a smooth jump shot that could extend to three-point range, makes him a potentially deadly player.

It will be interesting to see how many NBA minutes he receives from Coach Kidd this season, but it will probably end up somewhere around 10 per game.

Rashad Vaughn received 15 minutes per game last season at a position of need. So, with plenty of solid contributors at the power forward and center positions, Maker will end up with fewer opportunities. Still, if he can make the most of his time while on the floor, his minutes will surely increase.

A lot of his strengths will come along as he develops, but for now his biggest strength is youth.

Weaknesses

And although Maker’s age is a strength moving forward, it is a weakness for this season. He doesn’t have the basketball experience that the players around him have. Maker is entering a league that is completely different from anything he has ever played in. Along with that, he needs to spend a lot of his time in the gym adding muscle.

Maker was all over the floor in the Summer League, grabbing rebounds and hustling, but by adding strength, he can truly become a tremendous rebounder. When matched up against a bruising back-to-the-basket big man, Maker will struggle to defend them this season. He has a lot to learn, and he has to be ready to take it all in.

Steve Novak

Now a 33-year-old veteran, this former Marquette Golden Eagle is a great player to have on the Bucks. Steve Novak brings a lot of experience to the young team along with his positive attitude. Novak has no problems coming deep off the bench and doing whatever he can to improve the team.

Of the 459 NBA games that he has played in, Novak has only started 6 of them. He is very comfortable in his role, and it is unlikely that he sees any more than 10 minutes per game this season. Still, he has lots of value to the team.

Strengths

Novak is a shooter. Everybody knows it, but he isn’t easy to stop. With his height at 6’10” and a high release, he is very difficult to block. For his career, he knocks down the three at a remarkable 43.1 percent clip. If he gets any type of open look from beyond the arc, you can just put it into the score book.

He cannot create for himself, as 97.1 percent of his career three-pointers are off of assists, but that’s alright. He spreads the floor incredibly well and does his duty from out there. He fits well with slashing and attacking guards on the floor with the ability to kick it out, which Milwaukee possesses on their roster.

Weaknesses

Defensively, he brings very little to the table. He isn’t great in low post defense and struggles against both forward positions, despite his height. Yet, he doesn’t have the quickness to stay with most forwards and often gets left in the dust.

His lack of top-level athleticism hurts him on both ends of the floor, but he is definitely a serviceable bench player, especially when the Bucks are in dire need of shooting.

Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Overview

The Bucks have struggled with bench production in recent years, but the team has to be hopeful with the changes in the rotation and several key additions to the squad this summer.