The Milwaukee Bucks may have been mentioned in the Peyton Watson sweepstakes this summer, but the reality sounds a lot less dramatic than the buzz suggested. According to The Denver Post’s Bennett Durando, Milwaukee and Denver had preliminary talks about a deal, yet the Bucks never actually put an offer on the table for the forward, who ended up going to Cleveland.
That detail says plenty about where Milwaukee stands with its forward group. Rather than chase Watson aggressively, the Bucks appear comfortable moving forward with what they already have.
That’s notable because the spot was one of the clearest issues on the roster after the blockbuster Giannis Antetokounmpo trade. Milwaukee does have names in the mix, but the fit and timeline vary widely.
Jaime Jaquez Jr. is the most intriguing piece, though the big question is whether he can hold down a starting role or is better suited as a key reserve. Kyle Kuzma is more of a bridge than a long-term answer.
Ousmane Dieng brings upside, but he may need more time before he’s fully ready. Nate Ament and Bogoljub Markovic are both very young rookies who will need development, and Pete Nance might not even stick on the roster.
So if the Bucks passed on Watson, the bet is clearly on internal development. Jaquez, in particular, should get the biggest chance of his career to prove he can handle a major role.
Still, Milwaukee probably isn’t done keeping an eye on the market. Even after sitting out the Watson chase, the Bucks would be smart to monitor the trade landscape as the season unfolds. They’ve kept their assets, including the ones they received from the Miami Heat in the Giannis deal, in reserve, and that kind of patience can pay off if the right forward becomes available.
With no pick in next year’s draft, the pressure is on to win now. The market may be quiet at the moment, but that can change quickly once the season starts and teams figure out who really belongs where. If Milwaukee can eventually land a starting forward for the long haul, it would solve a major hole that’s still sitting open.
In Other News...
Bucks Suddenly Have A Frontcourt Question That Could Define This Rebuild
After the blockbuster trade that sent Giannis Antetokounmpo to Miami, Milwaukees frontcourt picture changed fast, and now the Bucks are trying to sort out what comes next in the middle. The roster still has Myles Turner and Jericho Sims at center, while recent draft pick Kel'el Ware gives the team another young option with some upside. It is the kind of reshuffling that comes with a reset, but it also leaves the Bucks with more questions than certainties up front.
Turner is still under contract after a disappointing season and is working to build chemistry in a new setting, which makes his role one of the more important storylines to watch. Ware is expected to bring depth and long-term potential off the bench, and Sims is back after exercising his player option following a solid season. For a team trying to chart a new direction, how those pieces fit together could end up shaping the rebuild as much as any move the front office has already made. [Read more 🡒]
Bucks Forward Rotation Leaves Ousmane Dieng Waiting On One Key Break
The Bucks brought Ousmane Dieng back on a three-year contract, a move that keeps a young forward in the fold as they reshape the frontcourt around Kyle Kuzma. For now, though, the opening at power forward appears spoken for, with Kuzma lined up to start and Dieng projected to settle into a backup role unless he forces his way into a bigger picture during training camp.
There is still a path for Dieng to matter more than the current depth chart suggests. Milwaukee could revisit the position during the season if it decides to trade Kuzma, and that would immediately change the outlook for Dieng, who is waiting on one key break to turn a reserve job into something larger. [Read more 🡒]