Milwaukee Bucks: Does Eric Bledsoe make Matthew Dellavedova dispensable?
Since the arrival of Eric Bledsoe the Milwaukee Bucks have gone 11-4. Does his play mean Matthew Dellavedova is now expendable?
Since being trade from the Phoenix Suns, Eric Bledsoe has changed the way the Milwaukee Bucks play. As a member of the Bucks, Bledsoe has averaged 18.0 points, 4.2 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 2.1 steals in 31.2 minutes per game.
It is this last number which is cause for concern for any Matthew Dellavedova fan. Dellavedova has been injured for all but a handful of games since the arrival of Bledsoe, but the team has gone 11-4 in that time and there has been a nice little guard rotation developing in his absence.
Bledsoe and Tony Snell have started the majority of games. Head coach Jason Kidd has tried Gary Payton II in a smattering of games, mainly when Snell has been injured.
Displaced starter and last season’s Rookie of the Year Malcolm Brogdon is now sixth man, often coming on to replace Giannis Antetokounmpo. DeAndre Liggins, Rashad Vaughan and Jason Terry, when not injured, are also a big part of the rotation.
When Dellavedova comes back, he will most likely take minutes from all three of these players. However, there is something the Bucks need to consider moving forward.
The contract
Dellavedova’s contract is worth $9.6 million per season, making him the Bucks’ seventh-highest paid player. He has three seasons left to run on this contract including this current one.
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When used correctly, Dellavedova is worth every cent of this money. If you want a player put off their game, Dellavedova is your man. His defense consists of niggling, tight play.
Offensively, Dellavedova specializes in setting up the open man. His 3.7 career assists per game don’t tell the full story of how well he sets up the offense. Dellavedova is also a serviceable spot-up shooter from deep and possesses a reasonable floater in the lane.
What Dellavedova does bring, which no one else on the roster has aside from Terry, is championship experience. Where he grew in fame was the Finals series where Kyrie Irving went down with his fractured kneecap and Dellavedova had to step up. The defense he played on Stephen Curry was inspired.
The next season, the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Golden State Warriors. That June experience may yet be crucial to the Bucks in the coming season. Milwaukee is building something special here.
The problem
The biggest problem for Dellavedova is the fact so many players are coming off contract at the end of the season. DeAndre Liggins and Rashad Vaughan will both probably receive higher paydays than the deals they are on now.
Jason Terry is currently 40 years old and I can’t see him signing another contract at the end of the season. This means the Bucks are going to have to find another veteran willing to sign on for a minimum.
The biggest problem of the size of Dellavedova’s contract next year is Jabari Parker will be a restricted free agent. Even though Parker has been out with his knee injury since last season, the Milwaukee Bucks are going to want to throw big money at the young budding star.
At only 22, Parker is going to form a relationship with the 23-year-old Antetokounmpo going forward which could form one of the greatest frontcourt combinations in the NBA. If they need to move Dellavedova to achieve this, there will be no hesitation from the Milwaukee Bucks front office.
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The play of Bledsoe has made this speculation possible. However, for anyone who has followed the hard working Australian’s story, you know he will not give up without a fight. He has worked too hard to get into his current position, but it will be interesting to see how this all pans out, especially with Bledsoe himself being a free agent in 2019.