The Milwaukee Bucks have been relatively quiet over the NBA offseason. After the league-shaking trade for Damian Lillard last season, the team was a major disappointment. Eliminated from the first round, it was a far cry from their championship days behind Giannis Antetokounmpo.
However, an in-season coaching change, along with Giannis’s injury, did place an asterisk on their year. As a result, there is optimism that the team could return to its glory as early as next season. So far, with limited roster flexibility, the team hasn’t made any major moves. However, that ended with a shrewd move from the front office.
The Gary Trent Jr move is a match made in heaven
The Bucks have been looking for a permanent answer at the shooting guard spot for years. In Gary Trent Jr, they get a legit sniper from a distance who has been at or near 40% from long range on a high volume for his entire career. While Lillard and Trent’s defensive duo leaves much to be desired, the hope for fans would be that GTJ can replicate his second year in Toronto.
From the Portland Trailblazers to the Raptors, Gary had his best defensive season, earning plaudits as a disruptor. Ranking in the top 10 in the league in deflections, Trent made up for his deficiencies with some tremendous instincts. Further, the pairing alongside Dame has already been a success. Alongside the rapper-cum-basketball superstar, GTJ had arguably the best year of his career.
Most importantly, his shooting abilities give the Bucks another name to stretch the floor, allowing Antetokounmpo to dominate in open court. Thanks to his shooting ability, Milwaukee can run four bonafide snipers alongside Giannis, giving them a decided offensive edge.
However, Gary Trent’s biggest bonus is his contract. At the minimum, the career 14.3 points per game scorer is a considerable bargain and could end up stealing the entire free agency.
The Milwaukee Bucks coaching situation
Milwaukee has had multiple coaching changes over the past two seasons. While questions were persistent about Mike Budenholzer during his tenure, the 2022 NBA championship gave him some staying power.
However, eventually, the franchise chose a different direction, instead appointing AJ Griffin as head coach. But that experiment didn’t pan out. Even though their regular season was dominant, good for second in the Conference, it wasn’t up to the standards many expected.
As a result, the team underwent a mid-season coaching change, putting 2008 NBA Champion Doc Rivers in charge. However, due to his recent struggles with the Los Angeles Clippers and the Philadelphia 76ers, the hire remains a questionable move.
However, Gary Trent Jr. might be right in his favor. Historically, the shooting guard spot has seen much success under his reign. In the cases of both Ray Allen and JJ Reddick, Rivers made the most out of their play. Another sharpshooter in GTJ might be the best case fit in such a situation.
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