When the Milwaukee Bucks traded Sam Merrill to the Memphis Grizzlies for cash and Grayson Allen, many fans were not too thrilled. Grayson Allen, after all, had been on the Duke University team that defeated the Wisconsin Badgers in the NCAA Championship game. Furthermore, many did not think his personality would blend well with those on the team already. However, ever since he donned the Bucks jersey, Grayson Allen has been nothing short of fantastic. In the absence of Donte DiVincenzo, he has started all the team’s games and has provided three-point shooting from the two-spot that Milwaukee has not seen in years. In fact, with his five three’s last night in Boston, Grayson Allen joined an elite group of Bucks’ shooters:
Grayson Allen This Season
Grayson Allen is having a career year in his fourth season in the NBA. As a consistent starter for the first time, Allen is averaging career highs in points per game (15.8), rebounds per game (3.9), three point percentage (43.0%), and free throw percentage (92.0%). What is most impressive about these numbers, especially the shooting ones, is that he is attempting more shots per game than any season in his career. By a lot. Last season with Memphis, Allen attempted 5.5 three’s per game and made 2.1 per game. This season, he is attempting 8.8 three’s per game while making 3.8.
Will Grayson Allen Start When Donte DiVincenzo Returns?
With how well Grayson Allen has been playing of late, it is hard to imagine that he would lose his starting job. With 21 points in the loss to the Boston Celtics last night, Allen now has more 20-point games in his tenure with the Bucks than Donte DiVincenzo. For comparison, Grayson Allen has played 13 games for Milwaukee. DiVincenzo has played 159.
This is certainly not to say that DiVincenzo does not hold value or a place on this team when he returns. With George Hill, Pat Connaughton, and Bobby Portis coming off the bench, there is plenty of offense in the reserve unit. DiVincenzo, on the other hand, is a staunch defender who would be valuable returning to the bench as a defensive substitute. This was the role DiVincenzo had prior to last season when he was the Bucks’ starting shooting guard.
Conclusion
Of course, another option would be to trade Donte DiVincenzo. The Milwaukee Bucks were close to doing so last offseason in the infamous non-trade with the Sacramento Kings. However, he is coming off of a foot injury and has not played in months. His value may not be as high as we might want to think it is. The good news is that while we wait for DiVincenzo to heal, Grayson Allen is lighting up the scoreboard and redeeming himself in the eyes of Wisconsin basketball fans.
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