Bucks GM: Giannis Antetokounmpo could play some center next year

The Greek Freak Experience just got a little bit freakier, and it’s awesome.

Milwaukee Bucks GM John Hammond made an appearance on “The Baseline NBA Podcast on Tuesday and spoke about the team’s plans for the upcoming 2015-16 NBA season. Amongst them, the Bucks could be exploring the possibility of playing 20-year-old Giannis Antetokounmpo at the center position at times next year.

“I think moving forward, I love the thought of small-ball for us,” Hammond said. “I think you play Giannis Antetokounmpo at center. And he’s 6’11”, so it’s not really small-ball per se, but his ball skills and know-how of how to play will give us the ability to do that and I think that could be a really fun team to watch someday if you do look at small-ball theory.”

After experimenting with Antetokounmpo at point guard during Summer League last year, the fact that Milwaukee is even considering playing him at center gives a glimpse into the Greek Freak’s sky-high upside and versatility.

I, for one, love the idea of the occasional Giannis cameo at the 5. The Eastern Conference has a dearth of truly dominant centers with the exception of Andre Drummond and Hassan Whiteside (maybe Brook Lopez and Al Jefferson, health withstanding). That means that more often than not, Giannis will be able to hold his own down low. He could still use some bulking up at 216 pounds. But at 6-foot-11 with a 7-foot-4 wingspan and hands the size of the Great Wall of China, he definitely has the length and athleticism to compete. Now add that to his slowly improving jump shot and his ability to handle and create off the bounce, and Giannis becomes an absolute matchup nightmare. Even more so than he already is.

While he might not quite be a Meyers Leonard-type stretch five, Antetokounmpo can serviceably stretch a defense with his range. After he shot 34.7 percent from deep in his rookie year, Jason Kidd came in and worked with Giannis to prioritize shots closer to the basket. As a result, he only took 44 threes last year, hitting at a woeful 15.9 percent clip. But Giannis became lethal from midrange (especially that 18-footer at the top of the key) while also improving as a finisher (from 55.0 percent in the restricted area in 2013-14 to 61.2 percent in 2014-15). That alone would be enough to pull opposing shot blockers away from the rim. And with Antetokounmpo’s ability to take his man off the dribble and make plays, the Milwaukee offense will find itself with all sorts of new seams and driving lanes to exploit offensively.

For a Bucks team that is already looking at serious spacing issues next season, Giannis at the 5 could be exactly the tweak they need to remain healthy offensively. It’s especially important as well considering the blueprint the Warriors made on their way to the NBA title last season. Amongst other things, the Dubs went small regularly and stacked their lineup with strong passers at every position, even unconventional playmaking positions like the center. The Greek Freak is steadily improving as a passer, and having a makeshift point center like him down low could be scary for Milwaukee opponents.

With Hammond stating earlier this month that the team plans to bring Jabari Parker along slowly next year, this could be the unorthodox but brilliant adjustment needed to maximize the ceiling of a scarily good young roster.

Unleash the Giannis.

H/T CBS Sports

*Stats courtesy of NBA.com*