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Milwaukee Bucks: 3 players entering their do-or-die Season

By Dylan Piccolo

MILWAUKEE, WI - APRIL 26: Malcolm Brogdon #13 and Eric Bledsoe #6 of the Milwaukee Bucks celebrate in the fourth quarter against the Boston Celtics during Game Six of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs at the Bradley Center on April 26, 2018 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WI - APRIL 26: Malcolm Brogdon #13 and Eric Bledsoe #6 of the Milwaukee Bucks celebrate in the fourth quarter against the Boston Celtics during Game Six of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs at the Bradley Center on April 26, 2018 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /
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MILWAUKEE, WI – APRIL 26: Malcolm Brogdon #13 and Eric Bledsoe #6 of the Milwaukee Bucks celebrate in the fourth quarter against the Boston Celtics during Game Six of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs at the Bradley Center on April 26, 2018 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WI – APRIL 26: Malcolm Brogdon #13 and Eric Bledsoe #6 of the Milwaukee Bucks celebrate in the fourth quarter against the Boston Celtics during Game Six of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs at the Bradley Center on April 26, 2018 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

The Milwaukee Bucks are moving in a new direction with Mike Budeholzer. With Budenholzer at the helm, there might be some players on the move.

As the Milwaukee Bucks decided to end the Jason Kidd era and begin the Mike Budenholzer era, there will definitely be changes in the future. The Bucks have 14 players locked up on the roster for the upcoming year after waiving Brandon Jennings. A couple of those 14 players are playing on the last year of their guaranteed contracts and will be working on getting a nod of confidence and a new contract.

Here are a few players that are playing for their future with this organization.

3. Thon Maker

Thon Maker is entering the third year of his four-year rookie deal and his future depends on the Bucks willingness to pick up his final season for next year by Oct. 31.

Since being drafted in the first round in 2016, Maker has shown some strides of development but has often left us wanting more. Last season he fell short of the lofty expectations that many fans put on him, averaging 4.8 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 0.7 blocks in 16.7 minutes per game. His production actually decreased from his rookie season with seven more minutes on the floor.

He struggled defensively in a lot of spots this season as he finished with the third-worst defensive field goal percentage for centers playing in 70+ games last season at 51.2 percent. This is disappointing to see as Maker has the length to affect shots in the post and shows that he simply got outworked down low.

Offensively it wasn’t what you wanted to see in Maker’s sophomore campaign especially from inside the lane as he only converted 52 percent of his finishes in the restricted zone.

Although he was one of the worst centers in the NBA last season, his postseason run as “Playoff Thon” turned some heads. Maker showed that he can be an effective 3-and-D center at the highest level in Games 3 and 4 of the first-round series against Boston. He averaged 11 points and 5 blocks over those two games. It was a shot in the arm the Bucks needed after dropping the two games in Boston and it showed that Maker can be a spark plug for this team.

A lot of the success he had in Games 3 and 4 was because he made decisive moves on offense and defense. He played well offensively in the pick-and-pop action hitting threes rather than trying to mess around with the likes of Al Horford or Aaron Baynes on the block.

Defensively, he was impressive using his length to play defense rather than try and use his body. He achieved his blocks based on quick rotation defense and his recovery skills on chase down blocks.

Moving into this season, it’s important for Maker to show Budenholzer that he has progressed enough to earn a spot in the future rotation. It’s clear Brook Lopez will be the starting center, but the backup role is wide open for both Maker and John Henson to duel out.

In a perfect world, it will be Maker to take the backup minutes, but if Maker struggles like he did last season he might be hitting the free-agent market sooner-than-later. Maker’s skillset fits more with what Budenholzer is trying to do and we should see Maker grow with the new player development coaching staff. It is very likely that the Bucks will pick up his option for the 2019-20 season, but if he wants to live up to his first round status, it appears this is a make or break year for Maker.

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