Look To Add A Reliable Perimeter Defender

After being one of the better defensive teams in the NBA a year ago, Milwaukee currently ranks 20th in opponents points per game and are letting teams shoot 39.2% from three-point range, second-worst in the league. 

With the 76ers, Nets, Celtics and Pacers all being reliable and solid three-point shooting teams, the Bucks will need to either get better defensively on the perimeter or add a high-level defender near the trade deadline in order to make it to the NBA Finals. 

Guys like Gary Harris, Josh Okogie, Rajon Rondo, Will Barton and P.J. Tucker are all great perimeter defenders and could be trade targets for the Bucks. Having any of those talents along with the defenders like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jrue Holiday the Bucks already have would make for some truly impressive lineup combinations.

Jrue Holiday is more than capable of guarding an opponent’s best guard and Khris Middleton can guard guys like Tobias Harris and Jayson Tatum on the wing, but the Bucks need a reliable defender who can take away opponent’s shooting guards and their knock-down three-point shooters. 

For example, who will guard Kyrie Irving or James Harden when the Bucks run into the Nets in the playoffs? Who will guard Marcus Smart or Seth Curry when the Bucks play the Celtics or 76ers? 

Having reliable perimeter defenders to turn to get stops is crucial, especially in the playoffs. The Bucks did sign Torrey Craig to a one-year contract this past offseason and he has always been known to be a physical and tough perimeter defender. 

Craig has only played in 7 games this year and has not seen much time, which may need to change in order for the Bucks to get better defensively. There are options for Milwaukee to improve defensively, it is just a matter of what it will cost them.