Several weeks ago Bucks fans everywhere got the devastating news that starting guard Khris Middleton will be missing six months of the regular season, due to a torn hamstring suffered in preseason workouts.

Middleton, who was labeled the most “underrated player in the NBA” a year ago, is a key part of the Bucks young core and has averaged a team and career high 18.2 points per game.

It’s no question that the Bucks will miss Middleton’s scoring, but they will also miss him on the other side of the ball too. Middleton showed his defensive prowess last season averaging nearly two steals a game, and he was in the top 10 in the league in points allowed in isolation per possession at .63 points per possession.

Overall the Bucks went from a playoff contender and best defensive team in the league in 2015 to one of the worst defensive teams last season and missed the playoffs.

To fill the void from Middleton’s absence, the Bucks acquired Michael Beasley from the Houston Rockets in a trade for Tyler Ennis.  Beasley was the second overall pick in the 2008 draft.  After disappointing campaigns with the Miami Heat, Phoenix Suns and Minnesota Timberwolves, Beasley took his talents overseas to China where he was a fan favorite and was the 2015 MVP.

Last season Beasley played with the Rockets, where he averaged 12.8 points per game, five rebounds, and averaged 18 minutes in 20 appearances for the Rockets.

Only playing 44 games over the last two seasons, Beasley is the furthest thing away from a sure thing, but his length and scoring ability adds a much needed installation to the Bucks bench.  Where Beasley will likely hurt the Bucks is on defense; last year the Rockets allowed an average of 9.3 more points with Beasley on the floor and with the Bucks defense already struggling, this could prove to be a big problem.

Overall while I am not the biggest fan of the acquisition, I’m glad the Bucks are making moves to show that they have “win now” mentality.  The best case scenario, in my mind, is that the Bucks are looking for players to package with Greg Monroe for a trade deal to get a more defensive-minded and athletic big man.