This article is part of our NBA Team Previews series.
STATE OF THE FRANCHISE
On the heels of arguably the most disastrous season in franchise history, the Bucks went through a leadership overhaul this offseason, saying goodbye to long-time owner Herb Kohl and lame duck coach Larry Drew. Wes Edens and Marc Lasry, two New York financiers, have taken over as owners and embraced a full rebuild – something Kohl's regime refused to do. Milwaukee stole Jason Kidd away from the Nets this summer and added promising rookie Jabari Parker with the second overall pick in the draft. Parker and second-year point-swingman Giannis Antetokounmpo are now the faces of the franchise, and their respective developments will be the primary storylines this season. The Bucks know they're nowhere near contending for a title, but with a young core, up-and-coming coach and stable of intriguing veterans – Larry Sanders, Ersan Ilyasova and Brandon Knight, to name a few – the franchise's future looks considerably brighter than it did at this point last year. It may take a while for Kidd to find the right rotational combinations, but if Parker and Antetokounmpo meet expectations and Larry Sanders has a bounceback season, the Bucks should be one of the more improved teams in the Eastern Conference.
PLAYING TIME DISTRIBUTION
Last season, it was anyone's guess who would be on the floor on any given night. O.J. Mayo began the season entrenched as the starting shooting guard, but injuries and ineffectiveness would eventually relegate him to a reserve role. The same can be said for Sanders, who played in only 23 games while battling injuries and off-the-court incidents. At this point, it's tough to even project the opening night starting five. Sanders figures to have a stranglehold on the starting center spot, but with Antetokounmpo, Parker and Knight all capable of playing multiple positions, it will be up to Kidd to determine where they can be best utilized. Assuming Ilyasova resumes his role as the starting power forward – he was banged up nearly all of last season – Parker projects to start at the three with Antetokounmpo at shooting guard. However, many believe Parker is best suited for the power forward spot, so it's no surprise Milwaukee is open to moving Ilyasova and the $15.8 million he's guaranteed over the next two seasons. The point guard spot is also a bit murky. Knight was the entrenched starter when healthy last season, but the general belief is that he may be most effective playing off the ball. The Bucks added assist machine Kendall Marshall this summer, and he'll provide a nice change-of-pace to Knight, who's far from an accomplished passer. Jared Dudley and Mayo also figure to factor into the backcourt rotation, as both veterans have starting experience. Mayo's situation may be the most intriguing, coming off of an extremely disappointing first season with the Bucks. If he returns focused and dedicated, Mayo has a great shot to reclaim the starting shooting guard spot he held at the start of the 2013-14 season. At some point, Kidd is going to have to decide on a consistent rotation but, realistically, it's nearly impossible to predict where Antetokounmpo, Knight and Parker will see most of their respective minutes. Perhaps more than anything, the playing time distribution will depend upon whether or not Milwaukee is able to find an offer intriguing enough to trade Ilyasova or another frontcourt player like Khris Middleton or John Henson.
PLAYER OUTLOOKS
Centers
Larry Sanders: Sanders had one of the most tumultuous seasons of any player in the league in 2013-14, as injuries and suspensions limited him to just 23 games. A thumb injury sustained during a nightclub brawl sidelined him for 25 games in November and December, and an orbital fracture suffered February 8 cost him the remainder of the season. In 25 minutes per game, Sanders finished with averages of 7.7 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks. In addition to the injuries, Sanders also dealt with a number of off-court issues. There was the nightclub brawl, an animal cruelty citation, and a reported verbal spat with then-teammate Gary Neal after a mid-season loss. To top it all off, Sanders received a five-game suspension for marijuana and publicly defended his use of the drug. Despite being injured, Sanders was able to serve his suspension over the final five games of the season. He'll look to start anew in 2014-15, as the four-year, $44 million extension he signed last summer kicks in. Despite all of his troubles, Sanders projects to return as Milwaukee's starting center. He could be pushed by John Henson, but he'll likely have a fairly firm hold on the starting job, as the team hopes he can regain the rim-protecting ability that made him a defensive player of the year candidate two seasons ago. When healthy and focused, Sanders is one of the NBA's premier shot-blockers and rebounders, but he's often in foul trouble and still has problems controlling his on-court demeanor. Sanders is a risky fantasy play, but if he regains his 2012-13 form, he could be a major steal.
Zaza Pachulia: In Year 1 of his second go-around with the Bucks, Pachulia struggled through injuries to average 25 minutes in 53 games. The prolonged absence of Larry Sanders enabled him to make 43 starts, and he posted averages of 7.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, and a career-high 2.6 assists on the season. While Pachulia is an above-average passer and good rebounder given his relative lack of athleticism, he's an inefficient offensive player. A career 46-percent shooter, Pachulia shot a downright atrocious 43 percent from the field in 2013-14. That's less than one percentage point better than the kneeless Andrew Bynum. While he's still (somehow) only 30 years old, Pachulia hasn't shown signs of developing a more efficient offensive game. He's never topped 50 percent shooting in a season and doesn't really work outside the paint. Over 75 percent of his career field goal attempts have come from within 10 feet, which makes his low field goal percentage even more puzzling. What Pachulia does provide is stable rebounding, decent assist numbers and a high free throw percentage. While he's only a 74 percent career free-throw shooter, Pachulia converted at a career-high (by far) 85 percent clip last season. He'll return as the projected backup center behind Larry Sanders and could see his playing time regress back toward his career average (21 mpg) if the Bucks' frontcourt is able to stay healthy.
Forwards
Jabari Parker: The second-overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, Parker shined as a freshman at Duke last season, averaging 19.1 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in 35 games. While Mercer ousted Duke in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, Parker was named to the All-ACC First Team and finished second to T.J. Warren for conference player of the year honors. A potential franchise-changing type of talent, Parker immediately steps in as the face of a franchise transitioning into a new era. He figures to see big minutes from day one and is virtually guaranteed to open the season as a starter. The question, though, is: where will new coach Jason Kidd play him? At 6-8, 235, Parker has prototypical size for the small forward spot, but he's also an excellent finisher around the rim and has experience in a stretch-four role. A 36-percent three-point shooter, Parker is comfortable working on the perimeter, as well as driving to the rim. Some reports have suggested the Bucks allegedly intend to use him at power forward, but with Ersan Ilyasova already on the roster, the small forward spot appears to make more sense. Regardless, Parker should be among the NBA's most productive rookies, even if he struggles to adjust to the pace of the NBA game.
Ersan Ilyasova: Coming off of a difficult year marred by nagging injuries, Ilyasova will look to re-solidify himself as a starting-caliber power forward. The 27-year-old endured arguably his worst NBA season in 2013-14, averaging 11.2 points and 6.2 rebounds while shooting just 41 percent from the field and a career-low 28 percent from beyond the arc. His injuries began in the preseason when he was sidelined with a severely sprained ankle. The ankle would continue to hamper him throughout the year, eventually leading to him being shut down with 12 games remaining. With a full summer to recover, the ankle issues should be a thing of the past. The question now is: how does Ilyasova factor into the Bucks' future? The selection of Jabari Parker in June's draft seems to make Ilyasova more expendable than ever, and it's no secret the Bucks wouldn't mind getting the $24.2 million he's owed over the next three seasons off the books. In all likelihood, Ilyasova will open the season as the starting power forward - assuming Jason Kidd views Parker as a small forward - and he'll compete with Khris Middleton and John Henson for minutes. If a team puts forth an intriguing trade offer, though, Ilyasova could find himself playing elsewhere at some point this season.
John Henson: Last season was supposed to be the year Henson came into his own as an NBA player. After an encouraging rookie season that included a few eye-popping stat lines, Henson was poised to push the struggling Ersan Ilyasova for the starting power forward role. However, despite an onslaught of injuries to Ilyasova, Larry Sanders, and plenty of others, Henson was never able to solidify a starting role. In 70 games, he finished 2013-14 with averages of 11.1 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks in 27 minutes per game. Prorated over 36 minutes, Henson's numbers come out to 15.1 points and 9.6 rebounds – a very respectable line for a young forward. The problem for Henson is going to be finding that type of playing time on a nightly basis. Sure, former coach Larry Drew's puzzling rotations are now a thing of the past, but how Jason Kidd will handle the North Carolina product's minutes remains to be seen. The Bucks have a glut of players in the frontcourt, and Henson will again find himself battling with more experience players for starter's minutes. He'll likely open in a similar role to last season as the first big man off the bench, but his role could significantly increase if the Bucks are able to move Ilyasova at the trade deadline or sooner.
Khris Middleton: Middleton enjoyed a productive first season in Milwaukee after coming over from Detroit in the Brandon Jennings-Brandon Knight swap. The second-year forward was the only Buck to play in all 82 games, averaging 12.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in 30 minutes per game. Middleton flourished as the do-it-all forward for a Bucks team stricken with injuries for nearly the entire season. A natural small forward, Middleton played 23 percent of his minutes at shooting guard last season and even dabbled as a power forward in some lineups. He figures to play a similar role this season and could see even more time at shooting guard with the additions of small forwards Jabari Parker and Jared Dudley to the roster. However, even if he plays close to 30 minutes per game again, Middleton isn't an overly productive fantasy option. He shoots a middling percentage (44 FG%) for his position and has trouble creating his own looks. With that said, he flashed a much-improved outside stroke, raising his three-point percentage by more than 10 percentage points over his rookie year (from 31 to 41 percent). If he can carve out a role as a hard-nosed defender who can rebound and shoot the three efficiently, Middleton should again hold down a consistent rotation spot.
Jared Dudley: Dudley landed in Milwaukee in late August by way of a trade that sent forward Miroslav Raduljica and spicy swingman Carlos Delfino to the Clippers. While Dudley may seem like an odd pickup for a team in the Bucks' position, he provides veteran leadership and playoff experience to a young core of developing players. Dudley is coming off of a relatively down season with the Clippers in which he appeared in 74 games (starting 43). After three consecutive seasons of double-digit scoring, Dudley's output dropped to 6.9 points per game – his lowest average since the 2008-09 season. The primary reason for the drop-off was a decline in minutes (23 per game), as he saw his playing time dwindle near the end of the season. He was in and out of the lineup throughout the month of April, logging eight DNP-CDs. When the playoffs rolled around, Dudley appeared in just six of Los Angeles' 13 postseason contests, losing minutes to likes of Danny Granger and Darren Collison. Looking for a fresh start with the Bucks, Dudley figures to factor into the lineup at up to three positions. Likely best-suited for the small forward spot, Dudley could also see time at shooting guard and could be used as a stretch-four in certain lineups. A career 40-percent three-point shooter, he'll immediately be one of the Bucks' top threats from beyond the arc.
Johnny O'Bryant: The Bucks snared the rookie out of LSU with the 36th-overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft. O'Bryant averaged 15.4 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 0.9 blocks in 30 minutes per game as a junior last season. A former McDonald's All-American, O'Bryant was a two-time All-SEC First Team selection and started 79 of 91 career collegiate games. At 6-9, 255, Bryant is already built like an NBA power forward, though he'll likely require a significant adjustment period. He certainly looked the part of a rookie at the Las Vegas Summer League and will need time to adjust to the speed of the pro game. Heading into the season, O'Bryant projects as Milwaukee's fourth or fifth power forward behind Ersan Ilyasova, Jabari Parker, John Henson, and Khris Middleton. He could see time at center in certain situations, but an injury or two would probably need to arise before that happens. In all likelihood, 2014-15 will be more of a developmental year for O'Bryant, particularly considering the Bucks' current frontcourt logjam.
Chris Wright: The Bucks signed Wright out of the D-League in March, and the 25-year-old appeared in eight games down the stretch. While the Bucks went 1-7 in those games, Wright was impressive in short stints. His highlight of the year came in a win over the Cavs when he scored 14 points (7-9 FG) to go with four rebounds and a block in 16 minutes. Milwaukee inked Wright to a "multi-year" contract in April, a deal that signed him through the remainder of the season and placed him on a non-guaranteed contract for the 2014-15 season. With the Bucks' roster sitting at 16 players heading into September, Wright is the leading candidate to be cut before the regular season begins.
Guards
Giannis Antetokounmpo: The 15th pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, Antetokounmpo emerged as one of the lone bright spots for Milwaukee last season. His numbers – 6.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists – weren't eye-popping, but it was his athleticism and promise on both ends of the floor that demanded attention. He earned a spot in the Rising Stars Challenge at All-Star Weekend and was named to the All-Rookie Second Team. Heading into Year 2, Antetokounmpo will face something he never did as a rookie: expectations. While the Bucks are nowhere near contending, even in the East, the arrival of Jabari Parker instantly provides Milwaukee with a high-ceiling prospect to build around. The Bucks are expecting Antetokounmpo to develop into Parker's long-term running mate, which will require a major leap in production. The rangy Antetokounmpo could play up to four positions this season, with coach Jason Kidd vowing to use him as a point guard – not a point forward – in certain situations. If Parker slides into the starting power forward role, as expected, Antetokounmpo will likely begin the season entrenched as the starter at small forward. Depending upon how Kidd handles his rotations, Antetokounmpo could easily vacillate between both guard and forward positions on a nightly basis.
Brandon Knight: In his third NBA season, and first with the Bucks, Knight appeared in 72 games (starting 69) and set career highs in scoring (17.9), assists (4.9), rebounds (3.5), field goal percentage (42%), and free-throw percentage (80%). With a new coach to impress, Knight will look to prove last season's numbers weren't simply a result of him taking advantage of being the de facto go-to guy on a bad team. The biggest criticism of Knight at this point in his career is his inability to see the floor like a true point guard. While he was thrust into that role last season, the offseason additions of Jerryd Bayless and Kendall Marshall should allow Knight to play off the ball more frequently. He's a decent three-point shooter (36% career) but saw his percentage drop to a career-low 33 percent last season. One of the primary reasons for the decline was his high rate of pull-up attempts. Just 65 percent of Knight's made three-pointers resulted in an assist last season, compared to 89 percent with Detroit in 2012-13, when he shot nearly 37 percent from long range. Similar to last season, the Bucks' rotations are difficult to predict at this point. There's no doubt Knight will be one of Milwaukee's top contributors, but it remains to be seen if he'll spend more of his time at point guard or shooting guard.
O.J. Mayo: Mayo was one of the more disappointing players in the league last season after signing a three-year deal with the Bucks. Coming off of an impressive year with the Mavericks in 2012-13, Mayo was expected to be handed the keys to the Bucks' offense and have a chance to be a true number one option for the first time in his career. With Dirk Nowitzki hurt for the first half of the 2012-13 season, Mayo flourished as the go-to guy, but his numbers tailed off significantly upon Nowitzki's return. Last season, Mayo's numbers never even had the chance to tail off, as it was clear virtually from the start of the season that he would struggle. A few bad games early on eventually led to prolonged absences from the lineup. Mayo played in only 52 games (starting 23) and finished with averages of 11.7 points, 2.2 assists, and 1.9 rebounds per game. He shot 41 percent from the field and 37 percent from three, while knocking down 86 percent of his free throws. It's hard to believe Mayo transformed into a disappointment over night, and his struggles can likely be attributed – partially, at least – to an ill-defined role within former coach Larry Drew's rotations. Mayo was one of the few Bucks to remain healthy during the first half of the season, and yet he found himself playing 30 minutes one night and 15 the next. He enters Year 2 with the Bucks looking to prove 2013-14 was a fluke. If he returns in better shape, he'll compete for the starting shooting guard job that was taken from him a season ago.
Kendall Marshall: The Bucks signed the North Carolina product , a college teammate of forward John Henson, in mid-July after he was waived by the Lakers. Marshall appeared in 54 games for Los Angles, making 45 starts while Steve Nash, Steve Blake, and Jordan Farmar were sidelined with various injuries. He averaged 8.0 points, 8.8 assists, and 2.9 rebounds in 29 minutes per game. Widely regarded as one of the best pure passers in the NBA, Marshall's 8.8 assists per game tied with Ty Lawson for third in the league, trailing only Chris Paul and Rajon Rondo. Marshall's 44.3 assist percentage was good for second in the NBA behind Paul, but while he's one of the league's best assist men, Marshall struggles to score in the paint, shooting just 41 percent on two-point field goals. He's also a poor defender who lacks lateral quickness and is often exploited by quicker point guards. Marshall improved as a three-point shooter last season, converting a hair under 40 percent of his 178 attempts. He was a 32 percent three-point shooter as a rookie, but his efficiency climbed with his attempts (1.6 per game to 4.5 per game). The lefty was particularly effective from the corners, making 43 percent of his attempts. Entering his third NBA season since being selected 13th overall by the Suns in 2012, Marshall will compete for a starting spot under new coach Jason Kidd. Brandon Knight is the incumbent starter, but Milwaukee has expressed a desire in the past to play him more at shooting guard. Regardless, the Bucks claimed Marshall for a reason, and it would be a surprise if he's not a regular rotation guy in the backcourt.
Jerryd Bayless: After splitting last season between the Grizzlies and Celtics, Bayless will join his sixth team in seven years. He began last season with the Grizzlies where he averaged 8.1 points, 2.1 assists, and 1.9 boards in 21 minutes per game. After being shipped to Boston in a deal that brought Courtney Lee to Memphis, Bayless' numbers slightly improved, as he recorded 10.1 points and 3.1 assists over the season's final 41 games. While his shooting percentage (40% cumulative) leaves much to be desired, he's never been great inside the arc (career 44% 2Pt FG) and makes up for it with plus three-point shooting. Bayless shot just under 36 percent from deep last season but knocked down nearly 40 percent of his attempts as a member of the Celtics. In Milwaukee, Bayless will likely be asked to come off the bench, a role he's become accustomed to since entering the league with the Blazers in 2008-09. However, his ability to play both guard positions should provide ample opportunity to see consistent minutes. While Bayless has played 63 percent of his career minutes at the point guard spot, he played point guard just 25 percent of the time while with the Celtics. He'll compete with Brandon Knight, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nate Wolters, Kendall Marshall, and O.J. Mayo for playing time in a backcourt stocked with fairly underwhelming talent.
Nate Wolters: As a rookie in 2013-14, Wolters appeared in 58 contests before breaking his hand on March 20, an injury that would end his season. He made 31 starts and averaged 7.2 points, 3.2 assists, and 2.6 rebounds in 23 minutes per game. The second-rounder out of South Dakota State shot 44 percent from the floor and 29 percent from three, while connecting on 66 percent of his free throws. An injury to Brandon Knight on opening night thrust Wolters into a major role much earlier than anticipated, and several more injuries throughout the year kept him in the regular rotation. He split time between both guard spots, spending 55 percent of his minutes at shooting guard and 45 percent at the point. While Wolters impressed for the most part as a rookie, he may have a difficult time carving out minutes this season. The Bucks added Kendall Marshall, Jerryd Bayless, and Jared Dudley to the backcourt, and all three figure to factor into the rotation before Wolters.
SLEEPER
O.J. Mayo: Mayo has more to prove than perhaps any player on the roster this season, and he's been all but written off in most fantasy circles. Of course, that's for good reason, but shooting guard is probably Milwaukee's shallowest position, and Mayo will have a decent chance to see 25-plus minutes per game if he's there, mentally. For a player of his style, he shoots a good percentage from the floor (43 percent career) and from three (38 percent). Even last season, easily the worst of his career, he shot 37 percent from beyond the arc, making 1.6 threes per game in limited and sporadic minutes. He's about as risky a pickup as it gets, but if the 26-year-old regains his past form, he has the potential to be a valuable fantasy asset off the bench, particularly in deeper leagues.
BUST
Giannis Antetokounmpo: I'm not as high on Antetokounmpo as most, which is basically sacrilegious at this point, but before I'm burned at the stake, hear me out. Antetokounmpo is 19 years old. He's played high-level professional basketball for 12 months. He grew two inches throughout the course of last season. That doesn't happen to normal rookies. Antetokounmpo is going to be a good player down the road, but in only his second NBA season, it's going to be nearly impossible for him to live up to expectations. For as exciting and dynamic as Antetokounmpo was at times last season, he's still unpolished offensively and doesn't have a true position. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but it's tough to envision him putting up the kind of numbers that will make him a valuable fantasy commodity on a nightly basis.
