Milwaukee Bucks: How Does New Signing Cole Anthony Fit Alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo?

Breaking News: Milwaukee Bucks Adding Cole Anthony

The Milwaukee Bucks have finally addressed their significant hole at the point guard position by making a notable free agent signing. Five-year pro Cole Anthony, who has spent his career as a strong bench player and occasional starter with the Orlando Magic, is heading to Milwaukee.

Anthony was traded from the Magic on June 15th, as Orlando acquired shooting guard Desmond Bane from the Memphis Grizzlies. Anthony was part of a package that included Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and four first-round draft selections. However, shortly after the deal was done, news emerged that Anthony and Memphis were looking to arrange a buy-out, meaning Anthony would not be suiting up for the Grizzlies and would instead become a free agent.

Saturday evening, it was announced that Anthony intends to sign with the Milwaukee Bucks following his buy-out from Memphis. ESPN’s Shams Charania broke the news.

How Does Cole Anthony Fit With Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks?

Cole Anthony has been mainly a bench player throughout his career, but he has shown the ability to be a starting-caliber guard. With 125 starts to his name through five seasons, Anthony is a career 12.5 point-per-game scorer with strong playmaking ability despite being a smaller guard. At just 6-foot-2, he is coming off a season where he achieved the second-highest assist-rate per 75 possessions of his career.

Anthony is a player who can help a team push the pace of the game, something that will help the team create more transition opportunities. While Giannis Antetokounmpo remains one of the most dominant transition players in the league, Anthony gives head coach Doc Rivers another good option to help speed up the game when needed.

When not handling the ball, Anthony is not the best catch-and-shoot threat. He has shot just a 34.5% clip from beyond the arc for his career on under 4 attempts per game, meaning some teams may be comfortable leaving him open from distance.

Although it would be ideal for Milwaukee to have four strong shooters around Antetokounmpo at all times, Anthony’s pace, playmaking, and energy give the team another up-tempo element that could help fuel their high-pace offense. When the Bucks won the NBA Championship in 2021, they ranked 6th in the league in pace. In the last three seasons, Milwaukee has not ranked in the top 10 in this category.

Anthony is not known for his defense, which is part of why his role in Orlando had diminished over the last few seasons. However, his offensive ceiling is certainly cause for excitement. Milwaukee fans will be hoping that Anthony’s weaknesses on defense can be offset by the imposing frontcourt of Antetokounmpo, new signing Myles Turner, and Bobby Portis. There is a world where he can become an above-average starter, but at the very least, Anthony will be a strong scoring punch off the bench.

What is the State of the Milwaukee Bucks Guard Rotation?

Anthony is joining a guard rotation that is currently staffed by Kevin Porter Jr., who re-signed with the team on a two-year deal this offseason, and Ryan Rollins, who also inked a new contract with the team this summer. Without Damian Lillard at the point guard position, Anthony will figure to get plenty of minutes and likely be a starter for the team.

Reinforcements may still be in order for the Bucks backcourt. Rumors about the team being interested in Chris Paul were circulating last week, and CP3 has still yet to sign with a new team. Former Bucks guard Malcolm Brogdon is also still available.