Do Milwaukee Bucks Have Unexpected 'Wild Card Factor' in Year 2 of Kyle Kuzma?

His miserable postseason – 5.8 PPG, 34.3/20/50% shooting splits – left a bitter, bitter taste. Kuzma’s poor decision-making also produced some eyesore turnovers, including a bizarre backcourt violation. His Game 1 performance – zeros across the board – made postseason history. By Game 5, Kuzma was bench-warming.

Yeah: it was bad.

It doesn’t help that he posted a cheeky video in the offseason referring to Giannis trade gossip. It did not go over well with the fanbase.

Nonetheless, now that we’ve come to terms with who Kuzma is and expectations aren’t as high – could they get any lower? – perhaps he could surprise as a punchy bench option. Analyst Camille Davis of the “Locked On Bucks” podcast sees a world where it could happen.

By Asking Kuzma To Do Less, Could the Bucks Get More?

Much of next season’s roster-building will have to do with navigating Damian Lillard’s absence. If they don’t make a splash in the free agent or trade markets, the Bucks will have to settle for a team-construct of Giannis surrounded by a supporting cast of productive role players. Bringing back guys like Gary Trent Jr., Bobby Portis and Kevin Porter Jr. is a critical step in that process. But Kuzma would have to be part of the picture too.

“I do they if they’re able to re-sign all those guys they have enough,” Davis said, “and I feel like Kyle Kuzma is also that wild card factor coming off the bench. Because if he can find some rhythm, find his spots, be put in positions to succeed, he could be someone who’s giving you a solid 15, 16 points a game.”

At decent efficiency, the Bucks would probably take that, helping to hold them over until Damian Lillard returns from his Achilles recovery process and can start reconditioning himself as a secondary offensive option.

Kuzma started 32 games in Milwaukee last season, averaging 31.8 minutes per night. By bringing him off the bench, coach Doc Rivers can cut his losses if Kuzma plays poorly and perhaps get more out of him without the pressure of producing as a starter.