The Milwaukee Bucks have added another layer to an already crowded backcourt, and it’s putting even more pressure on two of their newest young guards.
Milwaukee used the 10th overall pick on Brayden Burries and also acquired Kasparas Jakucionis in the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade, giving the franchise two players who should matter in the next phase of the roster build. But their paths just got trickier with the Bucks reportedly re-signing Gary Trent Jr. to a four-year, $64 million deal.
That kind of money signals more than a simple depth move. Trent is being paid like someone Milwaukee expects to play a major role, and that only tightens the squeeze in a guard room that was already full. Ryan Rollins, Kevin Porter Jr., Tyler Herro, AJ Green, and Caris LeVert are already in the mix, which means Burries and Jakucionis now have to carve out minutes in a rotation that doesn’t have much room to spare.
For a rookie and a sophomore, that’s a tough setup. The Bucks can’t let a glut of guards slow down the development of two players with real upside, especially when the roster is already over the limit and a trade feels like the most likely solution. Moving a guard would clean up the numbers and open space at the same time.
Milwaukee clearly wants to stay competitive next season, but that shouldn’t come at the expense of its younger pieces. With Doc Rivers no longer in charge and Taylor Jenkins now in the fold as one of the best player development coaches in the business, the Bucks need to lean into that strength.
Burries has already flashed plenty in Summer League, looking like a potential two-way contributor right away. Jakucionis has shown passing and perimeter shooting ability at the NBA level, though he still has room to grow. Both are 20 years old, and both could end up shaping the next decade of Bucks basketball.
Even with Trent’s new deal on the books, Milwaukee needs Burries and Jakucionis on the floor. If Trent starts cutting into their minutes, the noise around the backcourt logjam is only going to get louder.
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