The Milwaukee Bucks have a backcourt puzzle to solve, and it’s the kind of problem good teams like to have. With Ryan Rollins, Tyler Herro, and Kevin Porter Jr. all capable of starting, someone is going to have to give up a first-unit spot and anchor the second group instead.
That shift doesn’t have to be treated like a step down. New Philadelphia 76ers guard Anfernee Simons made that case clearly on the Cousins with Vince Carter & Tracy McGrady podcast, and his explanation fits the Bucks’ situation neatly.
"My mindset going into the game is I've already competed at a high level with starters, and it's going to be even easier for me when I come into the game playing against second units."
That’s the mindset Milwaukee’s holdover guards will need if they want the rotation to work smoothly. If Rollins is at point guard and Herro is beside him, Kevin Porter Jr. looks like the cleanest fit to lead the bench group. He likes having the ball, and that role would let him stay aggressive without having to share the backcourt with another ball-dominant guard.
It could also help Porter in a bigger way. On an expiring deal, he’d have the chance to put his game on display with more control over possessions and more room to show what he can do. Rather than fading into the background, he could become the engine of the second unit.
The Bucks have more than just those three guards in the mix, too. Brayden Burries and Kasparas Jakucionis are part of the young group, while AJ Green and Gary Trent Jr. add more proven talent to the picture. That gives Milwaukee plenty of options, but it also makes the decision tree a little messy.
Still, the talent level is obvious. Rollins, Herro, and Porter are all starting-caliber guards, and one of them was an All-Star. Milwaukee should be able to keep high-level guard play on the floor at all times, which is a big reason the group looks so dangerous on paper.
Now it’s on Taylor Jenkins to sort out the logjam. How the Bucks divide those minutes in training camp will be one of the most watched questions heading into the season, and the bench role may end up being the most important one in the room.
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