The Bucks have seen enough from their Summer League group to get excited about some of the young pieces in the pipeline. Brayden Burries and Nate Ament have both flashed the kind of upside that can keep a front office dreaming. Malique Lewis, though, is heading in the opposite direction.
Lewis was the forgotten name from draft night, the player Milwaukee landed with the 60th pick after trading back into the draft. It was a low-cost swing for the Bucks, who sent cash considerations to Orlando, but the move only makes sense if Lewis eventually gives them something. So far, that hasn’t happened.
Drafted out of the South East Melbourne Phoenix in the Australian National Basketball League, Lewis came into the process with some real intrigue. He averaged 7.3 points, 4.4 rebounds and two assists per game last season, and he’s generally viewed as a 3-and-D small forward. He shot 38 percent from deep and added a steal per game, the kind of profile that can tempt teams to take a chance late.
But Summer League has not been kind to him. Through four games across different sites, Lewis is averaging just 4.8 points and 3.2 rebounds in 14.9 minutes per game.
The shot has abandoned him too, with 29.4 percent shooting from the field and 25 percent from 3-point range. In the recent win over the Hornets, he played only 48 seconds.
That kind of usage tells the story. For a 60th pick, the margin for error is tiny, and right now Lewis looks more like a candidate for the Wisconsin Herd than someone pushing for a two-way deal.
He’s also running into a crowded field. Ament has emerged as the clear standout after shaking off a slow start and playing with more aggression on offense.
Brandon Boston Jr. brings prior NBA experience that shows up in his performances, while Zack Austin has been turning heads with his energy. Those are the kinds of players who can squeeze a young forward out of the picture fast.
Milwaukee already moved quickly to sign Kam Jones to a two-way while keeping Cormac Ryan, leaving one spot open in that lane. But the Bucks may prefer to use it on someone who is actually producing right now. That leaves Lewis in a tough spot.
Summer League doesn’t decide everything, and players do develop at different speeds. Still, the Bucks are waiting for some kind of vindication on the decision to trade into the draft for Lewis. At the moment, he doesn’t look ready to help at this level, and the likeliest next stop appears to be the Herd - or maybe even overseas.
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