NBA draft pick Donte DiVincenzo adds more competition to Bucks' crowded guard group

When the Milwaukee Bucks selected Donte DiVincenzo in Thursday night's draft, the decision came with the implication that the team valued bringing in more shooting even if it meant adding yet another guard to the team's guard-heavy roster.

The glut of guards, including Eric Bledsoe, Malcolm Brogdon, Tony Snell, Khris Middleton, Matthew Dellavedova and Sterling Brown – not to mention the guard-like skills of Giannis Antetokounmpo – means competition will be fierce for playing time during the 2018-'19 season.

For new coach Mike Budenholzer, that's a good thing to look forward to.

“Everybody has to earn their role," Budenholzer said Thursday night. "Everybody’s going to be given opportunities."

DiVincenzo's addition could have another impact on the roster, one that could be felt in the coming days.

Brandon Jennings has a non-guaranteed, minimum contract for 2018-'19 that reportedly will become guaranteed if he is still on the roster on July 1. The former lottery pick rejoined the Bucks franchise in February by signing with the G League's Wisconsin Herd before getting a promotion to Milwaukee in March due to simultaneous injuries to Brogdon and Dellavedova.

With the team's depth at point guard now theoretically going four deep with DiVincenzo, a combo guard, it would make sense for Milwaukee to waive Jennings. That would give the Bucks added flexibility to test the free-agent market this summer.

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Not counting restricted free agent Jabari Parker, the Bucks have 12 of a maximum 15 players on their roster for next season, and DiVincenzo will be No. 13 when he signs.

Depending on how free agency plays out, Jennings could return later on the same minimum deal if he didn't sign elsewhere and Milwaukee wanted to bring him back.

Heading into the new league year July 1, Parker and whether he fits on the roster remains the key decision for the Bucks. Beyond that, the Bucks could be on the lookout for ways to bolster their frontcourt, something they opted not to do with the draft. With their depth at the one- and two-guard positions, Milwaukee also could be active in exploring trade options. 

Of the remaining guards and wings, Bledsoe, Brogdon, Middleton and Antetokounmpo ended last season as starters in the playoffs under coach Joe Prunty. Those four have a good likelihood of staying in that role under Budenholzer, with only Brogdon having any level of risk of being replaced.

That leaves DiVincenzo to compete with Dellavedova, Brown and Snell — not including Parker or any players brought in via free agency or trades — for playing time.

A 40.1% three-point shooter last season at Villanova — including 36.7% on three-pointers from NBA range according to Synergy Sports Technology — DiVicenzo demonstrated in college that he has the ability to make a difference off the bench. DiVincenzo's willingness to take on the sixth-man role at Villanova despite having the talent to start was something that impressed Budenholzer.

He projects to be able to play both point guard and shooting guard in the NBA, which could help his case.

“For me, personally, to get to coach a competitor like him that’s really, probably I would say the first characteristic or something you want to look for in players is that competitive spirit," Budenholzer said. "I think he’s an elite competitor. … Donte will get a chance here with summer league and I think he’d start playing right now if he could.”

DiVincenzo versus Brown could be one of the more interesting training-camp battles. Both stand 6-foot-5, can shoot the three and display toughness on defense. Neither has shown the propensity to back down from a challenge, either. Those are all reasons the Bucks were drawn to those two in the past two drafts and it could lead to some intense matchups in practice.

Brown, who averaged 4.0 points and shot 35.2% on three-pointers over 54 games last season, has the edge in experience. The second-round pick was one of the team's more tenacious defenders, even if he was still only just learning Milwaukee's system.

The Bucks hope DiVincenzo will be able to make an early impact, but doing that in games is going to be an uphill climb with Brown and others in the way.

“The things that we think give him a chance and an opportunity to do that are his physical toughness, the level at which he competes and the fact that he can shoot the basketball," general manager Jon Horst said of DiVincenzo. "Not to compare him to Sterling Brown, but those are a lot of the things that we liked about Sterling last year when we drafted him and thought that he could come in and help and contribute.

"So to what level he's able to do that in game situations is to be determined. There's no doubt in our mind that he's going to contribute to the roster in other ways, in practice, in the locker room and other ways because of his character and his willingness to be a part of winning."

Possible Bucks depth chart

PG: Eric Bledsoe, Matthew Dellavedova, Donte DiVincenzo, Brandon Jennings

SG: Malcolm Brogdon, Sterling Brown

SF: Khris Middleton, Tony Snell

PF: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jabari Parker*, D.J. Wilson

C: Thon Maker, John Henson, Tyler Zeller

* Parker becomes a free agent July 1.