The Bucks head into training camp with a roster that looks nothing like the one they had before, and that alone puts Taylor Jenkins in the middle of a major puzzle.
Milwaukee’s offseason started with a seismic move: the team decided to move on from Giannis Antetokounmpo and traded him, along with Bobby Portis, to the Miami Heat. In return, the Bucks landed three first-round picks, one pick swap and one second-round pick, plus four players in Tyler Herro, Kel'el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Kasparas Jakucionis.
That influx of talent was only part of the turnover. Milwaukee also added two draft picks from this year’s NBA Draft in Brayden Burries and Nate Ament, who was selected with Miami’s No. 13 pick. All of those new pieces now fall under Jenkins, who is preparing for his first season with the Bucks after spending the previous six years with the Memphis Grizzlies.
With so many new names in the building, Milwaukee enters camp with a long list of questions. Three stand out.
The guard room is crowded enough that the Bucks may have more bodies than clean answers. Between the incoming players and the holdovers, Milwaukee has roughly eight guards on the roster, and AJ Green, Caris LeVert and Gary Trent Jr. can slide to the three in certain lineups.
Herro, Ryan Rollins and Kevin Porter Jr. appear to have clearer paths to roles, but after that the picture gets messy. The Bucks have options, but finding minutes for everyone is going to be a challenge.
Burries should get a look quickly, especially since he can handle both guard spots. Jakucionis is another interesting piece because of his blend of playmaking, shooting and size at 6-foot-5, and Milwaukee is hoping the 20-year-old can grow into a bigger role.
That leaves Green, LeVert and Trent in an uncertain spot, and Porter is not entirely locked in either. The Bucks are already over the 15-player standard regular-season limit, so a trade involving one of those players is a real possibility. Jenkins will have to sort out who matters most in the rotation and who ends up squeezed out.
Herro, though, may be the player who changes the temperature of the whole group. He returns to his hometown of Milwaukee with a chance to put up huge numbers and take on a much larger role.
The 26-year-old has averaged 20 points per game over the last five seasons without serving as the first option on any of those teams. That changes now. On a young roster that needs someone to step forward after Antetokounmpo’s departure, Herro has the clearest path to becoming the No. 1 guy.
He brings plenty to work with. Herro has shot 38.2% from 3 for his career, can create his own shot off the dribble and can also get teammates involved. He said he has a massive chip on his shoulder because of the constant doubts from the media, but he’s also excited for the fresh start.
His summer has kept him in the spotlight, from the trade itself to the altercation in Las Vegas with former teammate Bam Adebayo. Still, the Bucks appear ready to lean on him as the catalyst for this new era.
Ware is another player who drew plenty of attention when the Antetokounmpo return package came back to Milwaukee. The 7-footer spent the last two seasons with the Heat, averaging 10.3 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game as their backup center.
At 22, Ware brings a rare mix of size and skill. He can score inside and also stretch the floor, having hit 39.5% of his 3s on three attempts per game last season.
His numbers on the glass and at the rim stood out, too. Ware ranked No. 10 in the NBA in rebounds per game at 9.0 and No. 20 in blocks per game.
Even if his time in Miami didn’t unfold the way he wanted, his profile makes him a player who could thrive with the right chances. He’ll begin behind veteran Myles Turner and likely open the season as the backup, but Milwaukee has every reason to get him on the floor.
Turner is also a name to watch in trade discussions, which only adds another layer to Ware’s situation. If the Bucks do keep him in place, Ware gives Jenkins a young big with real upside and a chance to become part of the team’s future.
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At media day, the emphasis around Jenkins kept coming back to accountability and growth, the kind of language teams usually use when they want to show a clean break from the previous chapter. For Milwaukee, the appeal seems to be bigger than a fresh voice on the sideline. Jenkins is being positioned as someone who can shape the day-to-day culture, steady the locker room and push the group toward a higher level, which makes his first season here feel like more than a standard coaching change. [Read more 🡒]