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Milwaukee Bucks 2016 Season Preview

Milwaukee Bucks Depth Chart - 2016
	STARTER	2ND	3RD	4TH
PG	Rajon Rondo (81)	Pat Stribling (75)	Andrew Harrison (75)
SG	Eric Bledose (86)	Kobe Bryant (78)	Howie Miller (75)	Fred VanVleet (72)
SF	Jabari Parker (79(	Chip Barnes (67)
PF	Kristaps Porzingis (81)	Tristan Thompson (80)	Richie Nichols (70)
C	Willie Cauley-Stein (79)	Carl Pearson (71)

The Milwaukee Bucks bring a loaded line up to the table in 2016, with no glaring weaknesses across the board, this is a team thats finally primed to escape mediocrity and make a leap towards playoff contention and maybe even championship contention, a fresh new staff across the board has a significant change in outlook for this team. This is a team with an average age of 23, skewed heavily by Kobe Bryant (38).

This is a young team with a new coach and new staff, to say it's malleable would be an understatement and who better to mentor this group than Kobe Bryant? The superstar will come off the bench but what will be even more invaluable is what he can impart on a group that plays in a city substantially less "invested" than Los Angeles, bringing out the fierce competitiveness is a huge benefit of bringing him in.

The Milwaukee Bucks come into the 2016 season at 20th in the NBA.com Power Rankings, 24th in the 2K Sports Power Rankings and 20th in Marc Spears Power Rankings. Needless to say when 16 teams make the playoffs, they have some work to do and this is a roster definitely capable of making the playoffs.

Rajon Rondo will be officially the captain despite likely being the third or fourth best player on the court at any given time, his veteran leadership brings a definitely coolness to this group on the court, and Kobe Bryant is there to provide that to the second platoon. Eric Bledsoe returns from injury after being on pace for a career season that was cut short far too early. Kristaps Porzingis will man the helm at Power Forward and bringing about a strongly improved defensive repertoire, something the Latvian needed to work on and he did. Wille Cauley-Stein emerges from the train wreck of last season as the lone center from the squad last year, and he brings an even more improved defense making him a borderline elite interior defender, he is very athletic and in a contract year, expect him to make some moves.

Off the bench the key players are going to be Tristan Thompson who will be trade bait for some hungry teams but if he is happy playing in that role, he could stay in Milwaukee where he had a decent season off the bench. Andrew Harrison continues to improve but rookie Pat Stribling is breathing down his back for the second spot on the depth chart, for now Harrison is the clear back up but this is a very good spot for the Bucks to be in.

Howie Miller will split time with Kobe Bryant, with a high chance of Bryant playing at the 3 given his height advantage over Miller, and ownership has stated their rallying behind Miller in hopes of developing him further. Fred VanVleet continues to be a three point specialist and added a little on the midrange game as he spent more time in the offseason focusing on the offensive aspect, his defense isn't weak, but it isn't a strength either.

The Milwaukee Bucks open their season in Minnesota against the new look Timberwolves. Their first divisional match up will be in Milwaukee against the Cleveland Cavaliers who continue to fade. The Bucks are projected for another fourth place finish in the Central, which boasted three teams in the playoffs a year ago.