Milwaukee Bucks Rumors: Battle For Fifth Starting Spot

The Milwaukee Bucks made arguably the biggest splash this offseason with the acquisition of uber-superstar Damian Lillard. But the transaction cost the Bucks two starters. Now, there is a four-way dogfight to start alongside Lillard and Khris Middleton on the wing

Milwaukee Bucks Rumors: Battle For Starting Small Forward Spot

According to The Athletic’s Eric Nehm,  Malik Beasley is making his case to be the Bucks’ fifth starter due to his defensive play.

Beasley, who joined the Bucks on a one-year minimum salary deal this offseason, is known for his ability to provide instant offense due to his 3-point shooting. The 26-year-old guard has come off the bench for most of his career, though he has made 112 career starts. But he appears to have an edge in the competition to be the Bucks’ starting shooting guard, though that will be played out through the rest of the preseason.

Nehm also said that Beasley has a leg up because he is a better fit at shooting guard than Pat Connaughton and Jae Crowder. Beasley is also more experienced than MarJon Beauchamp.

Beasley has started the first two preseason games for the Bucks. He has scored in double-figures in each of those games as he has drained six 3-pointers.

Beasley is tied for second on the team in scoring this postseason with 12.0 points a game, though he is shooting 37.5% from the field and 35.3% from the 3-point line. Over 70% of his shot attempts (17 of 24) have been from the 3-point line. While Beasley has never been an above-average defender, it has been on that end of the floor where he has earned the highest praise.

“First, he was playing hard on defense,” coach Adrian Griffin said following the Bucks’ first preseason game. “We talked about this before this game and his role going forward into the season, that he’s going to have to take the toughest assignments most nights. With his 3-point shooting capabilities, I think he showcased tonight why he complements our roster.

“It will be fun to see him out there spacing the floor when we get Dame and Giannis back and see how teams play those guys. You just gotta be a threat out there. Every guy that’s on the floor, you gotta be a threat. And he gives us some 3-point shooting and some spacing.”

The Others Fighting For the Final Starting Spot

MarJon Beauchamp

Beauchamp is a very similar player to Beasley, as he is known more for his offense than defense. He is also a little bigger and more versatile. However, he is not as experienced or the shooter as Beasley is.

Beauchamp does have starting experience. The 23-year-old wing started 11 of his 52 appearances as a rookie and was much more productive in those games than when coming off the bench.

Beauchamp leads Milwaukee in both minutes and scoring this preseason. He has struggled shooting the ball and with his ball-handling. However, he has has hit the glass hard and defended well.

“We’ve talked about what kind of identity we want on the defensive end, and I thought he is buying in. He could be a hell of a defender,” Griffin said. “He has good feet, and he’s a physical specimen. A lot of defense is really grit and desire and wanting to compete on that end, and then when you have the physical tools, it just makes you even more of a threat on the defensive end. It’s just about will, and I thought he imposed his will today on both sides of the ball. And that’s what we need from him.”

Pat Connaughton

While Connaughton does have some starting experience, he is more of a small forward than a shooting guard. The 30-year-old, coming off a down season in 2022-23, is a good defender and rebounder.

Connaughton has come off the bench in each of the preseason games. He averages 10.5 points a game but has yet to shoot the ball particularly well, especially from deep (2-12).

Jae Crowder

Crowder is most suited to play the three or four. The 34-year-old is one of the better defenders in the league, though he doesn’t shoot very well. However, there are stretches where Crowder does shoot it well, like in his 18 regular season appearances last year. He has also shot well this preseason, starting at small forward in both games.

If Crowder does get the starting nod, he will likely start at small forward. Thus movingMiddleton to the two.