Milwaukee’s second unit is built to make life easy for whoever is running it.
The Bucks have plenty of perimeter firepower coming off the bench, which means the backup point guard should have a steady stream of targets ready to catch and shoot. In a setup like this, the job is simple in theory: move the ball, find the open man, and let the shooters do the rest.
If Taylor Jenkins goes with the expected starting group of Ryan Rollins, Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kyle Kuzma, and Myles Turner, the bench should still be loaded with outside threats. The list of likely rotation players tells the story. AJ Green has hit 42 percent from deep in his career, Brayden Burries shot 39.1 percent in college, Gary Trent Jr. sits at 42 percent, Kasparas Jakucionis at 42.3 percent, Kel'el Ware at 36.9 percent, Kevin Porter Jr. at 34.8 percent, Ousmane Dieng at 31.4 percent, and Pete Nance at 41.7 percent.
That kind of shooting changes the complexion of a reserve group. The only second-unit player who does not really fit that mold is Jericho Sims, though he still brings value as a lob threat.
For a pass-first guard, that mix is about as friendly as it gets. If the defense collapses, there will be options waiting on the perimeter.
Kevin Porter Jr. looks like the likeliest backup point guard to open next season. With Herro and Rollins projected to start, Porter would be in line to steer the second unit from day one.
Last season, he averaged a career-high 7.4 assists per game, even if injuries kept the sample size limited. Still, that was enough to show he can organize an offense and set the table for others.
Kasparas Jakucionis is another name to keep in mind. His path to minutes may not be easy right away, but his passing gives him real upside. If Porter misses time again, as he did last season, or if he is traded, Jakucionis could be the one stepping in to run the group.
Milwaukee’s backcourt depth looks strong no matter how the rotation settles. The Bucks have bodies there, they have shooting around them, and they have enough versatility to keep defenses guessing. Even when lineups shift and Herro, Rollins, and Turner are mixed into those groups, the bench should still have the kind of spacing that makes a guard’s job a lot easier.
In Other News...
Bucks Have A Young Reclamation Project Worth Watching
The Bucks have already shown they were paying attention to Ryan Dunn once before, and that could matter again if Phoenix starts listening on its young forward. Milwaukee passed on Dunn in the draft, but his profile still fits a team that has leaned on length, defense and development projects around the edges of its roster. For a Bucks staff that has had success helping players find roles, Dunn remains the sort of prospect worth revisiting if he becomes available.
What makes him interesting is the same thing that makes his situation unsettled in Phoenix. Dunn has flashed real defensive value, but the offensive side of his game still needs a lot of work, and the Suns crowded forward group gives them a practical reason to consider moving him before the deadline. If Milwaukee wants another swing on a young reclamation project, Dunn offers exactly the kind of upside-laced gamble that could become more appealing the closer the trade market gets. [Read more 🡒]
Jason Kidd Still Looms Large As Giannis Enters A New Chapter
Jason Kidd may be away from the sideline for now, but he has not drifted far from the game or from the people he helped shape. While spending more time with his family, Kidd remains open to another NBA coaching job and has kept himself connected to basketball in a quieter way, offering informal mentorship and staying in touch with players he has known well. For Bucks fans, that matters because his time in Milwaukee still sits as an important part of Giannis Antetokounmpos rise.
Kidd continues to communicate with Giannis and Jalen Brunson, a reminder that his influence has extended beyond any one stop in his coaching career. Even as Giannis moves into a new chapter, the relationship between the two is still part of the backdrop, and Kidds role in helping develop the star during his Bucks years is still recognized. What comes next for Kidd is unresolved, but the league has not heard the last of him. [Read more 🡒]
Taylor Jenkins Faces An Early Bucks Test That Could Shape Everything
The Bucks are in the middle of a roster and cap-sheet reset after Giannis Antetokounmpos move to Miami, and that has pushed Taylor Jenkins straight into one of the leagues tougher early coaching jobs. Milwaukee is trying to keep enough proven talent in the rotation to stay competitive while also making room for younger pieces such as Brayden Burries and Kasparas Jakucionis to grow into larger roles.
At the same time, Jenkins has veterans who need touches and structure, including Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Myles Turner and Kyle Kuzma, which makes every lineup decision feel like a small referendum on the rebuild itself. Finding the right balance between development and immediate production will shape not just how the Bucks look early, but how quickly this new version of the team can settle into something more stable. [Read more 🡒]