One Bucks player in danger of losing rotation spot in 2024-25 training camp

The Milwaukee Bucks are certainly looking forward to training camp. Following a disappointing season, the Bucks are likely eager to return to the court and prepare for a revenge tour. For that revenge tour to go as planned, all of the parts must fall into place. This entails having the correct formula for the system.
In the midst of last season, a surprise coaching move brought in Doc Rivers, who did not fare well in his first season with Milwaukee. With a whole summer behind him, Rivers has had plenty of time to prepare and determine what works best for his roster. Of course, this process isn’t over yet. Making system adjustments—in all probability — includes player rotation, which will still be finalized during training camp.

While the Bucks’ superstars will remain the same, the supporting cast’s minutes may vary. Newcomers may see more action, while some of last year’s utility players may lose their spots; Pat Connaughton is one example of the latter right now.

The Bucks’ outside rotation

To better understand Connaughton’s situation, consider the expected starting lineups for positions one, two, and three.

PG – Damian Lillar

SG – Gary Trent Jr.

SF – Khris Middleton

The shooting guard position is contentious. Other than Trent Jr., who is a newbie, other possibilities for the two spots include Taurean Prince, AJ Green, Connaughton, and Andre Jackson Jr. Nonetheless, Trent is the clear favourite here, given his productivity last season and skill set in comparison to the other starters. He’s essentially the greatest match for the role Malik Beasley played last season.

Connaughton’s issue begins in the second unit. Delon Wright is the best possibility for point guard after Damian Lillard in terms of play style. Prince’s shooting, length (7-foot wingspan), and defence will likely slot him at the three, replacing Jae Crowder. That leaves Connaughton, Green, and Jackson Jr. as the backup SG options.

Pat Connaughton will have to defend his spot in the rotation

Connaughton is still a good two-way player, no mistake about it. With a respectable outside shooter and quickness that results in rebounds and thrilling dunks, the 31-year-old veteran still has a lot to give.

Having saying that, the remaining names are also no pushovers. AJ Green is known for one thing: three-pointers. Last season, the third-year guard shot 40.8% from downtown, earning him minutes despite a loaded wing position.

Finally, there’s Jackson Jr., who can be defined as a motivator. Jackson, a 6-foot-6 athletic guard with a wingspan of 6 feet 10, was a workhorse for Milwaukee in 2023. Hustle plays, hard defence, rebounds, and intangibles – Jackson Jr. demonstrated it all.

Can one of the two consume Connaughton’s minutes? It depends. Green is currently the biggest threat to Connaughton’s rotation spot. Green’s playstyle lets him to fit into any lineup Doc Rivers may experiment with. There is always a need for a three-ball specialist on the court, and Green embodies that role. However, his defence is a question mark. He’s nowhere near Connaughton in that area, so how much he improves moving forward will determine whether he can pass Connaughton on the depth chart.

Andre Jackson Jr.’s situation is just the contrary. His athletic gifts give him a lot of potential, but he still needs to improve offensively. For starters, Jackson must decrease his turnovers, which prevented him from playing more minutes last season and likely limited his role as a ball-handler. Second, his lack of scoring ability concerns the Bucks.

The forward strides were obvious, however. Jackson was not regarded as an outside threat in college (29.3% from deep), but he averaged 37% from downtown as an NBA rookie. While it remains to be seen whether he can maintain that level with additional touches, progress is progress. In a squad that focusses on an inside presence like Giannis Antetokounmpo, having role players who can consistently shoot is a must.

Green and Jackson Jr. both have flaws, but they are still young, and young athletes typically have potential to improve. Pat Connaughton must be prepared to defend his minutes as training camp approaches and they seek larger responsibilities in the rotation. Bucks fans will find out in October whether there is a shakeup in the wings.

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