The point guard rotation appears complete
After Damian Lillard was waived, questions surrounded the point guard position for the Bucks, partially addressed by bringing back Kevin Porter Jr. and Ryan Rollins. But as helpful as those two were down the stretch and into the postseason, covering for Dame’s maladies, it still seemed like Milwaukee was short another ballhandler, to say nothing of the scoring departing the organization with Dame. Well, GM Jon Horst is making a move that will address both, as former Magic point guard Cole Anthony will sign with the Bucks after negotiating a buyout from the Grizzlies, per ESPN’s Shams Charania.
The 25-year-old North Carolina alum was the 15th overall selection of the 2020 NBA Draft by Orlando, where he’s spent all five seasons of his career to date. In that time, he’s accrued 12.5 PPG, 4.3 RPG, and 3.8 APG on .419/.345/.847 shooting as his role steadily decreased from starting point guard in 2021–22 to 18.4 MPG this year. Though he might have shown some potential to be something more at various points, Anthony has settled in as a backup who can put together big scoring nights here and there.
Scoring from the backcourt is something Milwaukee could use, but Anthony is still not established as an efficient scoring guard: his effective field goal percentage and true shooting numbers dropped to 49.4% and 53.1% this year as he got to the line at the lowest rate of his career. He’s never been known for quality defense, but he’s a solid playmaker who takes care of the ball reasonably well, so the hope is that when he is marshalling Milwaukee’s offense, he keeps it moving. Moreover, adding further youth and athleticism in the Bucks’ new-look backcourt seems to fit their new vision for pushing the tempo more, so Anthony should fit right in.
Surpassed by Markelle Fultz and then Jalen Suggs in Orlando’s backcourt, Anthony was dealt alongside Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and three first-round picks and one swap for Desmond Bane back in mid-June. Rumors have swirled since that Memphis would look to buy out the $13.1m final year on the rookie scale extension he signed back in 2023. The Grizzlies will probably have to stretch that out in a manner not unlike the Bucks did with Dame, but Anthony will be giving some salary back in the buyout too. Milwaukee does have about $3.6m remaining on their room mid-level exception, almost exactly $1m than Anthony’s minimum as a five-year vet, so he may get the remainder of the MLE instead of a veteran’s minimum.
That extra cash, plus an opportunity to play a legitimate role alongside Giannis, might be what made him choose Milwaukee. He’ll reunite with longtime teammate Gary Harris in the Bucks’ backcourt. Anthony may also have spent some time in Milwaukee as a wee lad: he is the son of longtime NBA point guard and TV analyst Greg Anthony, who finished his playing career as a Buck in 2002.