Okay, so maybe “solved” is a strong verb; perhaps “soothed” is more appropriate. Whatever the case, the Milwaukee Bucks have done something to address a glaring weakness at the wing position – lack of viable size – by signing Clippers free agent Amir Coffey to a one-year deal. How much will he help?
Milwaukee Bucks have hole that Coffey could clearly fill
Last season with the Clippers, the 6-foot-7 guard-forward averaged 9.7 points on 47.1/40.9/89.1% shooting splits. Now entering year seven, his first outside Los Angeles, Coffey has never been much of a rebounder or passer. He knocks down threes (a career 38.4% three-point shooter) and plays tough defense. At a basic level, that’s about it.
The Bucks could use him, though. Because they signed him to a training camp deal, reports The Athletic’s Eric Nehm, they don’t have to waive anyone immediately to clear a roster spot; Coffey isn’t guaranteed a role. If Milwaukee isn’t impressed in the preseason, they might simply waive him and keep Andre Jackson Jr., Chris Livingston, both fringe players who may or may not make the 15-man cut, instead. Thanasis Antetokounmpo also remains un-signed.
Nonetheless, it would be surprising if Coffey did not claim a place for himself by opening night. Right now, Milwaukee’s options at the wing include Gary Trent Jr. (6-foot-5), AJ Green (6-4), and Taurean Prince (6-6). Doc Rivers may also have to play Kyle Kuzma in that role, though at 6-foot-9 he cannot keep up with quicker small forwards and two-guards. Prince meets wing-defender specs, but like Kuzma, he is vulnerable guarding nimble ball handlers.
Trent and Green might be the Bucks’ best options – Green produced a +6.6 on-off efficiency rating on defense last season – but they are also undersized. Although both can play up, they are liable to get picked on.
Coffey could flop, but he’s worth a flyer
Thus the roster does not have any real options in that 6-foot-6, 6-7 sweet spot. Prince, Jackson, Livingston – none of those guys are players the Bucks should want to rely on. Trent and Green are excellent defenders, but better fit to take on the shooting-guard spectrum of opposing wing players.
Coffey, 28, still has plenty of juice despite his veteran reputation. Shortcomings in his overall game – ball handling, facilitator skills, rebounding – will limit his playing time wherever he goes, but for the Bucks, he could fill the very specific role of wing defender. Critically, his ability to capitalize from beyond the arc means that, in theory, he should be a decent fit alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo.
One parting caveat is that the above optimism – naivete? hope? – may be rooted in novelty bias. Let’s face it, there’s a reason Coffey was still available in mid-August. At least as a Clipper, he was a net rating sinkhole: -11.5, -10.1, -13.7, -3.3. Those are his on-off efficiency differentials in his four seasons of at least 500 minutes played.
Perhaps this roster is a better match for his skill set, although at first glance his negative on-off numbers are more than slightly concerning. The signing is basically a free trial, so the Bucks will just have to see.
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