The Bucks made a flurry of late-season acquisitions in Tyler Zeller, Shabazz Muhammad and Brandon Jennings. Since they were added so late, we thought it would be good to combine their Milwaukee seasons in one review.
Tyler Zeller
The Bucks acquired Brooklyn’s big man on February 5th in exchange for Rashad Vaughn and a second-round pick. He provided center stability, but was often hampered with foul trouble which limited his minutes (11 fouls in 66 total playoff minutes).
2017-18 w/ BKN: 7.1 PPG (57% FG, 10/26 3Pt, 67% FT), 4.6 RPG, 0.7 APG, 0.2 SPG, 0.5 BPG, 16.7 MPG, 42 games, 33 starts
2018 w/ MIL: 5.9 PPG (60% FG, 0/2 3Pt, 90% FT), 4.6 RPG, 0.8 APG, 0.3 SPG, 0.6 BPG, 16.9 MPG, 24 games, 1 start
2018 Playoffs: 1.6 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 0.4 APG, 0.6 SPG, 0.4 BPG, 9.4 MPG, 7 games, 3 starts
Zeller has never been a floor-spreading center with a three-point threat, but his 10/26 clip (just under 40%) from deep with Brooklyn this season is intriguing. In his first five seasons with Cleveland and Boston, he attempted a combined six three-point attempts. Being thrown into a different system mid-season, it’s not surprising that Zeller opted not to work the three-point shot back into his game that he was somewhat successful with in Brooklyn. Zeller is under a team-friendly contract for next season ($1.9M), but it will remain unknown what his playing time will look like with a healthy John Henson and a revamped Thon Maker, who will enter his third season in the league.
Shabazz Muhammad
The Minnesota Timberwolves opted to waive swingman Shabazz Muhammad at a rather odd time (during Jimmy Butler’s injury) and the Bucks quickly scooped him up after he cleared waivers on March 4th.
2017-18 w/ MIN: 3.8 PPG (39% FG, 21% 3Pt, 71% FT), 1.4 RPG, 0.2 APG, 0.2 SPG, 0.1 BPG, 9.4 MPG, 32 games, 2 starts
2018 w/ MIL: 8.5 PPG (55% FG, 38% 3Pt, 90% FT), 2.8 RPG, 0.6 APG, 0.4 SPG, 0.1 BPG, 10.6 MPG, 11 games, 0 starts
2018 Playoffs: 6.3 PPG, (9/20 FG, 4/5 3Pt, 3/5 FT), four rebounds, two steals, one block, 7.3 MPG, 4 games, 0 starts
Shabazz undoubtedly hit a low point in his career after falling out of Minnesota’s rotation completely this season. Milwaukee, though, gave him a change of scenery and a very small glimpse of what he could produce with increased minutes. His Per-36 minutes with the Bucks this season would put him at 28.9 PPG and 9.5 RPG.
Muhammad enters this summer as an unrestricted free agent, but it would not be surprising to see him in a Bucks uniform come next season.
Brandon Jennings
Finally, we have the old Buck, BJ3 (Or 11, if you’re all about technicalities). Jennings entered G-League waivers mid-season and was claimed by none other than the Wisconsin Herd. After showing out with many 20+ point performances, he signed a 10-day contract with the Bucks a few weeks later. He would then sign a second 10-day deal before being signed to a “multi-year deal” which guaranteed his salary for the 2017-18 season.
2018 w/ MIL: 5.2 PPG (38% FG, 27% 3Pt, 100% FT), 2.2 RPG, 3.1 APG, 0.4 SPG, 0.3 BPG, 14.6 MPG
Making his Bucks return on March 12th, 2018, Jennings surprised everyone, finishing just two rebounds short of a triple double (16 points, 8 rebounds, 12 assists). Unfortunately, Jennings wouldn’t continue that elite production, reaching double digits just one more time (16 points against Chicago). In Jennings’ defense, however, those were the only two games in which he eclipsed the 20-minute threshold. Similar to Gary Payton II last season, Jennings will enter the 2018-19 season with a non-guaranteed deal that can be waived at any time.
