The Bucks have a wing problem, and they’ve got two young names sitting near the top of the board: Jonathan Kuminga and Peyton Watson. On paper, both make sense as long-term bets. In practice, one of them comes with a much friendlier price tag, and that matters a lot for a team trying to protect its future.
That edge belongs to Kuminga. His team option was declined by the Hawks earlier this summer, a sign that Atlanta does not view him as a major priority and would not be looking for a massive return in a sign-and-trade. Watson, by contrast, is still seen by the Nuggets as part of their future, which means Denver would ask for a “ Walker Kessler-like haul ” to move him, according to Marc Stein.
For Milwaukee, that should make the choice pretty straightforward. The Bucks are a rebuilding team, and they should not be handing out major draft capital for an unproven wing. Kuminga fits the kind of swing that makes sense: a buy-low chance on a player with real upside, without the kind of asset drain that could damage the bigger picture.
Watson may look like the cleaner bet to some around the league because of what he’s shown as a 3-and-D player in Denver. But the Bucks would be asking him to do more than that, and he has not proven he can handle a larger role over time. That makes him risky in his own way.
Kuminga’s path has been bumpier. He has already flamed out with both the Warriors and Hawks, which is why he’s drifting into journeyman territory.
Still, that same market dip is what makes him interesting for Milwaukee. In a rebuilding setting, he would have more room to stretch his game and explore what he can become.
There’s still real upside there. Kuminga has flashed as a downhill scorer, and he’s shown he can defend when he stays locked in.
The Bucks have also built a coaching staff aimed at helping young players sharpen their skill sets and get more out of what they already do well. If Taylor Jenkins can work his magic with Kuminga, there’s still a very good player waiting to come out.
That’s why Kuminga looks like the better swing. Milwaukee has a young core worth being excited about, but chasing Watson too hard could undercut the chance to build something bigger later. Kuminga gives the Bucks a chance to add talent without paying premium assets, and for a team in their position, that should be the priority.
The Bucks can also use Kuminga’s low market demand to their advantage by signing him to a cheap deal and giving up minimal assets in a sign-and-trade. For a roster that lacks players with high potential, that kind of move makes a lot more sense than overpaying for a wing whose ceiling still hasn’t been tested in a bigger role.
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