Milwaukee Bucks: Gary Payton II 2016-17 season grades

Moving Forward

The Milwaukee Bucks currently have a full roster, as most NBA teams do at the conclusion of a season. But out of those 15 players, only nine are on fully guaranteed contracts, which means the roster could be shuffled in June and July.

More from Hoops Habit

• 7 Players the Miami Heat might replace Herro with by the trade deadline
• Meet Cooper Flagg: The best American prospect since LeBron James
• Are the Miami Heat laying the groundwork for their next super team?
• Sophomore Jump: 5 second-year NBA players bound to breakout
• NBA Trades: The Lakers bolster their frontcourt in this deal with the Pacers

Gary Payton II is helped by the lack of a third point guard on the roster and, interestingly enough, the emergence of Malcolm Brogdon. Because the Bucks now have a “young point guard” in Brogdon, and Matthew Dellavedova as the veteran backup, they can pursue a young guard with upside in the third slot, rather than addressing their need for a starting point guard and pushing Brogdon down to that spot.

With a contract guarantee date of Jan. 10 of next year, the Bucks don’t have to make a decision anytime soon either. Barring a need for his small cap hold, Milwaukee can hang onto him until training camp or preseason at the earliest.

One option for Payton would also be a two-way contract for the D-League. Barring an unexpected leap he will be spending time in Oshkosh next season; sliding from the 14th or 15th man to the 16th or 17th frees up roster space and makes it easier to keep Payton in the organization.

Spending time in the G-League next year will be a crucial way to develop his offensive game, especially how to score — shooting or at the rim — in traffic. He also needs to be able to shoot, and after going 1-for-9 from beyond the arc in six games, he still has work to do.