According to reports, the Milwaukee Bucks’ open two-guard position could be a concern.
The Milwaukee Bucks are led by two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, seven-time All-NBA selection Damian Lillard, and All-Stars Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez. This quintet has the potential to be the finest in the league. One factor that may prevent the Bucks from reaching their full potential is a lack of a reliable, dependable two-guard.
A void in the first five
Grayson Allen had been the Bucks’ starting point guard for the previous two seasons. Allen was a tough and sometimes contentious wingman capable of gritty defense and hitting open threes. He was, however, traded to the Phoenix Suns as part of the deal that brought Lillard to Wisconsin. This forces Bucks coach Adrian Griffin to make a difficult decision.
The only thing keeping Lillard and Antetokounmpo from being labeled a perfect couple is the chasm between Lillard and Khris Middleton on their wing. “The Bucks’ foundation has been a dead spot for years,” Deadspin’s DJ Dunson noted.
Lillard’s arrival in Milwaukee has shifted the focus to the Bucks. With that attention comes the pressure to make an informed selection about who will succeed Allen. Griffin has a few possibilities, but none are certain.
Malik Beasley, the newly acquired two-guard, appears to be the most sensible pick. The seven-year pro is a streaky shooter who averaged more than 20 points per game in 2020 while playing for the Minnesota Timberwolves. However, he, too, has flaws, especially in defense.
“Newly signed guard Malik Beasley is one of the NBA’s purest shooters, but also a low-effort defender who can get tunnel vision focused on getting his own shot off,” Dunson said in a statement.
The Bucks’ young players might potentially be considered. Their inexperience, however, may stymie a club with title hopes.
“The Bucks’ most recent draft picks MarJon Beauchamps, a 2022 first-round selection, and Andre Jackson Jr., could step up, but neither has proven they’re ready for primetime yet, nor should they be expected to.”
