Milwaukee Bucks Add Needed Depth Signing DeAndre Bembry
By Paul Bretl
![NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 08: DeAndre' Bembry #95 of the Brooklyn Nets handles the ball against the Boston Celtics at Barclays Center on February 08, 2022 in New York City. 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 Steven Ryan/Getty Images) NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 08: DeAndre' Bembry #95 of the Brooklyn Nets handles the ball against the Boston Celtics at Barclays Center on February 08, 2022 in New York City. 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 Steven Ryan/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/1ff4e6b4738cc3fa058368e8ff86e8d4c03d1e79fe20fef50bbdc91950bf0d7f.jpg)
On the same day that the Milwaukee Bucks sent Donte DiVincenzo to Sacramento in a four-team trade that landed them Serge Ibaka, Pat Connaughton would break his hand and he is expected to be sidelined for about four weeks. On top of that, George Hill hasn’t played since January 28th.
So as you can imagine, and as you saw on Monday night against Portland, the Milwaukee Bucks are lacking wing depth. To help remedy this, they’ve signed DeAndre Bembry, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
The Milwaukee Bucks are closing in on signing free agent G/F DeAndre Bembry for the rest of the season, sources tell ESPN. The Nets waived Bembry to create roster space for the blockbuster trade with Sixers.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 15, 2022
As Woj mentions, Brooklyn recently waived Bembry to make room on the roster for Ben Simmons, Seth Curry, and Andre Drummond after trading James Harden and Paul Millsap to Philadelphia.
Bembry appeared in 48 games this season with the Nets, including 20 starts, and averaged nearly 20 minutes per contest. While initially, the 41.7 percent that he is shooting from 3 looks quite enticing, Bembry has taken only 36 attempts from deep this season, and his career 3-point percentage is just 28.3 percent.
Where Bembry is going to make his presence felt on the offensive end is at the rim, where he can finish. This season, he is averaging 5.8 points per game, which is about on par with his career average, along with 1.3 assists and nearly one offensive rebound.
We shouldn’t expect anything crazy from Bembry on offense, but on defense is where he is likely to contribute the most. Here is a snippet from Eric Nehm of The Athletic ($$) on what Bembry can add to this Milwaukee Bucks’ defense:
"“At 6-foot-5 (with a 6-foot-9 wingspan), Bembry can be a disruptor defensively for opposing guards. He has the quickness to stay in front of most guards and he can use his length to bother players and keep them from getting to their preferred spots on the floor. When not guarding the ball, he also has the instincts to jump passing lanes and cause problems as a help defender.”"
In Milwaukee, Bembry will have the opportunity to carve out some steady rotational minutes with the Bucks being so thin at wing and Jordan Nwora continuing the struggle on the defensive end. Overall, expectations should be tempered, and it remains to be seen if he will even be in line for playoff minutes when that time comes.
But for now, Bembry provides some much-needed depth at a position of need. Per Woj, the Milwaukee Bucks still have two open roster spots remaining after this addition.