The Milwaukee Bucks’ preseason guard crowd got a little louder against the Chicago Bulls, and two-way backs Kam Jones and Cormac Ryan made sure they were part of the conversation.
With Taylor Jenkins sitting veterans and handing heavier minutes to players lower on the depth chart, both guards got a real chance to show what they can do. Jones, the Marquette product who is thrilled to be back in Wisconsin, took full advantage.
He came off the bench and delivered 23 points, four rebounds, an assist, and a steal while shooting 64.3 percent. He looked comfortable in every part of the scoring package, whether he was cutting hard to the rim or pulling up for jumpers.
Ryan also backed up the buzz around his game. After last season’s breakout campaign, he kept rolling with 14 points, six rebounds, and a steal off the bench.
His quick release from deep was again a calling card, just as it was last season, and he also made his presence felt on the glass. The energy and edge he’s known for showed up again.
The Bucks didn’t come away with the win, but there was still a bright spot in the performance of those two-way guards.
That matters because Milwaukee’s backcourt is crowded in a big way. Jones and Ryan are not projected to be major pieces right now, but the roster picture could shift once cutdowns arrive. Since both are on two-way deals, they’re safe from the kind of cuts that will have to come from the standard roster.
And if the Bucks do trim one or two guards, the path gets a lot clearer for either player to move up. For now, Milwaukee still has to sort through Ryan Rollins, Tyler Herro, Kevin Porter Jr., Brayden Burries, AJ Green, Gary Trent Jr., and potentially Caris LeVert and Kasparas Jakucionis.
That’s a hard rotation puzzle for Taylor Jenkins, but it also says something about the group as a whole. The Bucks have real depth in the backcourt, and Jones and Ryan just reminded everybody they belong in the discussion.
In Other News...
Bucks Could Lose Familiar Rotation Pieces As Roster Crunch Hits
Training camp has given Milwaukee a fuller look at its roster than the regular season will allow. NBA teams have to get down to 18 players by Oct. 19, and the Bucks are sitting at 21 on the preseason roster with 17 standard contracts, which means a few familiar faces will not fit once the final accounting starts.
Jake Fischer reported that Milwaukee is exploring trade options to clear the logjam, and that naturally puts some bigger names into the conversation. Kyle Kuzma and Myles Turner were mentioned as possible trade candidates, a reminder that the Bucks are not just deciding on the end of the bench - they may be weighing tougher choices deeper in the rotation as they work to get roster compliant. [Read more 🡒]
Tyler Herro Puts The Bucks At A Defining Backcourt Crossroads
Tyler Herros arrival in Milwaukee already gave the Bucks a different kind of backcourt conversation, and the stakes only rise with him entering the final year of his contract. Acquired in the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade, Herro brings the scoring punch that can tilt a game quickly, which is exactly why his status has become such a central part of the Bucks planning.
The question now is whether Milwaukee treats him as a short-term piece worth extending or as an asset whose value could help shape the next version of the roster. Herros offense is obvious, but his defense and overall fit with the teams long-term backcourt picture have created a real crossroads for a front office trying to balance present need with future flexibility. [Read more 🡒]