Following the conclusion of their summer league campaign, the next significant undertaking for the Milwaukee Bucks was to round out their 20-man training camp roster. The Bucks ended the tenures of their previous two-way players, Marshall Plumlee and Xavier Munford, replacing them by signing Trevon Duval on July 24th and Jaylen Morris on July 31st to new two-way deals. In this article, we’ll analyze the skillsets of the two new signees.

Trevon Duval

Height: 6’3″ Weight: 190 lbs Wingspan: 6’9″

A former top-10 high school recruit, Duval’s poor shooting resulted in his plummet from potential lottery pick to going undrafted. The former Blue Devil’s strengths include his elite athleticism, great finishing ability and body control, as well as the potential to be a solid NBA defender. Duval posted the second-highest standing vertical leap at 34 inches, trailing only his current teammate, Donte DiVincenzo. These traits combine to form a tantalizing prospect. If Duval can improve his questionable decision making and shaky jumper, teams will be kicking themselves for passing on him in the draft in several years time.

College Career

During his one season at Duke in 37 appearances, Duval averaged 10.3 points, 5.6 assists, 2.0 rebounds, and 1.46 steals while playing 30 minutes per game and shooting an underwhelming 29% from three. Another concerning stat is his sub 60% free throw percentage. Teams quickly caught on to Duval’s shooting weakness and thus began to play defense a step back from him, allowing him to take more three-point shots and cutting off his ability to drive. While in some cases, this worked, Duval showed improvement from behind the arc as the season progressed. Duval shot 17% from three in his first 15 games, but shot a solid 37% in his last 22 appearances. Hopefully this pattern is indicative of Duval’s ability to develop his shot and overall game.

Summer League Experience

During an up and down five-game Summer League stint with the Rockets, Duval averaged 9.2 points (36% FG, 33% 3Pt, 69% FT), 1.6 assists, 1.8 rebounds, and 0.6 steals across 16 minutes per game. His high-point came in game one, where he scored 20 points, making both of his three-point attempts and shooting 70% from the field.

Being a two-way player will allow Duval time to develop his shooting stroke in the G-League, as well as the ability to occasionally flash his talents with the Giannis-led Bucks. If he can put it all together and gain a reliable jumper, Trevon Duval has the potential to become the next solid point guard for the Bucks.

Jaylen Morris

Height: 6’5″ Weight: 185 lbs Wingspan: 6’9″

The story of Jaylen Morris is one of an underdog rising to the NBA against all odds. Jaylen has desirable intangibles and has a reputation for being hard-working and having a high motor. Also known for his above-the-rim play and lockdown defense, poor shooting and a slender frame have held Morris back. Despite being named New York’s Mr. Defense his senior year of high school, Morris was not offered any scholarships by major colleges and ended up playing for Division II’s Molloy College. Morris had a solid four years at Molloy, which culminated with a first-team all-conference nomination after he averaged just under 20 points per game.

G-League and NBA Experience

Morris went undrafted in the 2017 NBA Draft and almost met the same fate in the ensuing G-League Draft. He finally got a break when the Erie BayHawks selected him with the 41st overall pick. In 39 appearances during the G-League season, Morris averaged 12.6 points (52% FG, 28% 3Pt, 67% FT), 4.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.2 steals over 31.4 minutes per game. As stated earlier, his poor three-point shooting has held him back from increased success. Even without a solid three-point stroke, Morris has a positive impact on the court with his stingy defense, high IQ and slashing abilities. Morris’s +6.4 net rating was the third-highest net rating of any BayHawk with over three appearances. Without Morris, the team’s net rating dropped below -2.1 points per 100 possessions.

The Atlanta Hawks saw Morris’ ability to impact a game, signing him to a 10-day contract on February 28th of last NBA season. During six games, he averaged 4.7 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.2 assists through 16.4 minutes per game. The Hawks signed Morris for a second 10-day contract, but his time with the NBA squad ended when Morris sprained his ankle on the third day of the contract. Morris’ contract was not renewed and he returned to G-League action, finishing out the season with the BayHawks.

Summer League Experience

Morris participated in the 2018 Summer League with the Hawks, averaging, 8.5 points (46% FG, 35% 3Pt, 58% FT), 3.7 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 0.7 steals over 21 minutes per game in six appearances. After initially signing with Italian team Fiat Torino, Morris opted out of the contract and chose to sign a two-way deal with the Bucks. Morris has shown his ability to make a positive impact on the court, but similar to Duval, his ceiling will be tied to his shooting.

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