The Milwaukee Bucks have built a wave in the free agency market.
First, the Bucks have been dealing with frontcourt needs after landing Miles Turner in a four-year, $107 million deal and abandoning Damian Lillard.
But Miles Turner’s arrival has a nasty warning sign that could derail Milwaukee’s championship aspirations. His effectiveness appears to depend heavily on elite point guard plays.
Michael Pina’s research revealed concerns about Turner’s shooting performance trends over the past two seasons.
The data reveals that Turner won 39.6% of his 3-pointers in court, compared to just 29.9% he wasn’t in.
This dramatic 10% point difference highlights Turner’s dependence on Halliburton’s elite playmaking and pick-and-roll execution.
Without proper point guard support, Turner’s reputation as a floor-stretching center becomes questionable.
Milwaukee’s decision to abandon Lillard could eliminate their most talented playmakers and limit the effectiveness of Turner.
With Lillard gone, the Bucks have to resort to Kevin Porter Jr. as their main point guard option. Porter’s questionable playmaking ability and inconsistent decision-making create serious concerns about maximizing Turner’s potential.
Porter lacks the mastery of Halliburton court vision and pick and rolls that made Turner very effective in Indiana.
The developmental gaps between these point guards can have a major impact on Turner’s production and overall team chemistry.
Milwaukee’s Championship window relies on Turner to perform at peak levels, but the current roster structure could prevent him from reaching that ceiling without the support of a proper facilitator.
Turner’s disappointing final performance against the Oklahoma City Thunder revealed another struggle he had.
He averaged 10.6 points and 4.4 rebounds while shooting a disastrous 21.4% from the 3-point range during the Championship Series.
Defensively, Turner managed 1.4 blocks per game, but struggled with elite ball handlers like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
His defensive limits became clearer in the face of a versatile offensive player who could exploit his weaknesses.
Playing with Giannis Antetokounmpo should improve Turner’s defensive impact, but it cannot address the basic playmaking lack.
The Bucks do not have a point guard that can replicate Halliburton’s elite promotion skills.
The Bucks face an urgent need to acquire a legitimate playmaker who can unlock Turner’s floor stretching potential.
Without addressing this significant weakness, an expensive investment in Turner cannot produce championship-level results, putting Milwaukee’s title window in a serious danger.