Ryan Rollins is listed as questionable for the Milwaukee Bucks’ rematch with the Orlando Magic due to plantar fasciitis. That’s not an ankle sprain; even if Rollins may attempt to play through it, this could be an issue that lingers until he gets adequate time off. If Rollins plays through injury or has to miss time, newcomer Cam Thomas can certainly step up with an increased opportunity.

The Bucks may need newcomer to play a prominent role

Losing Rollins or getting a lesser version of him would be difficult. He’s been one of the NBA’s most improved players this season as one of the best young two-way guards in the business. That’s not a player who is easy to replace. Thomas might not provide the same impact on both ends, especially on the defensive end, but he can still help in some regards.

Milwaukee’s scoring is already putrid, but if Rollins isn’t himself, it’s only going to get worse. The good news is that Thomas is a certified scorer, averaging over 21 points per game over the last three years. If given more opportunities, Thomas would gleefully welcome the chance to show why the Bucks were right to take a swing on him after he was waived by the Brooklyn Nets.

Had the Milwaukee Bucks not signed Thomas, their guard depth would be on life support. Outside of Kevin Porter Jr. and Ryan Rollins, the team doesn’t have another floor general in the backcourt. They would be scrambling right now trying to find answers. Luckily for them, they pounced on one of the best buyout targets available following the trade deadline and now have adequate depth.

Thomas had himself a quiet Bucks debut, hitting just one of his five shot attempts as he scored five points. That type of performance was largely expected, given that Thomas was essentially fresh off the plane and hardly knew anyone he was playing with. As he gets more reps and practice time with his teammates under his belt, he should only get better.

The Milwaukee Bucks better hope that is the case, as they suddenly may need Thomas to play a big role after this latest Rollins announcement. Given that he’s listed as questionable, this injury may be minor. It’s better than Rollins flat-out being ruled out from the jump. His status will be one to monitor with each passing game now.

Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis.