Keeping Jaime Jaquez Jr. in Milwaukee might end up being more than a roster fit question. It could be a smart move for the Bucks if they decide to turn him into a bigger trade asset down the line.
That was the point Sam Vecenie made on the Game Theory Podcast, where he pointed to the pairing of Jaquez with stretch bigs Myles Turner and Kel'el Ware as a setup that could boost Jaquez’s value before the trade deadline.
"I might trade him at the deadline. You have two guys at the center position who can really shoot, which allows you to play a funky, inverted offense with Jaquez and you could build up his value."
There’s a clear logic to it. Jaquez is in the final year of his rookie contract, and his next deal is projected at four years, $78 million.
That number looks reasonable for what he brings, but it also puts the spotlight on how Milwaukee wants to use him. If the Bucks see him as a starter, the calculus changes.
If he stays in a bench role, that changes too.
His game also makes the fit interesting. Jaquez is an inverted wing who thrives on physical drives to the basket, so playing him at the three or four next to Turner or Ware would lean into what he does best.
Last season, he averaged 15.4 points, five rebounds and 4.7 assists. The long-range shot is still the weak spot - he hit just 31.7 percent from deep - which is exactly why the Bucks’ new big-man shooting could matter so much.
That’s the kind of profile that can matter at the deadline. Jaquez is only 25, and because he’s heading into the last year of his deal, a team that trades for him would be getting more than a short-term piece. If it has the cap room, it could also try to lock him up beyond this season.
Milwaukee would obviously prefer to keep him if it works out. But if a strong offer comes in, the front office would have to take a hard look.
The Bucks’ flexibility has already come up in other rumors, including Peyton Watson sign-and-trade talk, and they still need to trim the roster to 15 standard contracts this summer. Ryan Rollins has also been floated by people outside the team as a possible trade chip, even if a move there still seems unlikely.
For now, Jaquez stands out as the most interesting question mark in the mix. He hasn’t played in a Bucks uniform yet, so there’s no real in-game proof of how it all clicks. On paper, though, the setup with Turner and Ware could open things up for him and make him a more valuable trade piece if Milwaukee chooses to go that route.
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