The Bucks may have dodged a messy situation by not pushing harder for Peyton Watson in the offseason.
Watson has not exactly taken off in his new home with the Cavaliers, and now he’s already missed two games because of the same hamstring problems that bothered him last season. For Milwaukee, that kind of lingering issue would have been the last thing it needed.
There’s already enough uncertainty around the Bucks’ wing situation without layering in another player who can’t stay on the floor. Passing on Watson still comes with its own questions, but at this point it doesn’t look like a mistake. His production this season has been mediocre, and the injury wrinkle only makes the decision look safer from Milwaukee’s side.
That matters because the Bucks need young players on the court, not stuck in rehab. They’re trying to build rhythm and consistency among their younger core, and that only happens when those players get real time together - games, possessions, reps. If one of the key pieces keeps getting knocked out by a recurring injury, it can throw the whole thing off.
Watson’s hamstring issue isn’t new, either. He missed most of the final two months of last season with the same problem, right after putting together a breakout stretch that included a month-long run of 20 points per game.
If Milwaukee had brought him in, the whole point would have been to see whether that scoring burst could hold up over a bigger sample. Instead, injuries would have gotten in the way before the Bucks could learn much of anything.
And the price tag was never going to make sense for Milwaukee. Cleveland sent out Max Strus, a starter, along with a future first-round pick to get Watson.
That would have been a brutal deal for the Bucks to match. They need to be adding draft capital, not spending it on an unproven player.
So far this season, Milwaukee has avoided notable injuries altogether. Around the league, injuries have hit players of all kinds, but the Bucks have at least stayed mostly intact. The wins haven’t piled up, but the healthy stretch has given them a cleaner look at their new pieces.
That’s been especially important after all the turnover tied to their trade of Giannis Antetokounmpo. With so many new faces, the Bucks needed good health just to figure out what they actually have. Instead of guessing, they’ve been able to settle into more consistent rotations and even boost the trade value of veterans who could be on the move.
In Other News...
Giannis To Milwaukee Suddenly Feels Back In Play
The Giannis Antetokounmpo conversation has a way of never really leaving Milwaukee, and DeMarcus Cousins helped stir it back up on FanDuel TV by floating the idea that the two-time MVP could wind up back with the Bucks after the season. For a fan base that has watched every twist in his career with a little extra attention, the timing matters. Giannis has not signed an extension with the Miami Heat, and with his long-term future still unsettled, any hint of movement is enough to get people talking again.
Miamis uneven stretch only adds to the intrigue, especially with the way the league has recently watched Damian Lillard return to Portland after a trade. The situations are hardly identical, but they serve as a reminder that star-player storylines can take unexpected turns once the dust settles. For Milwaukee, the idea is more than just idle speculation. It is a reminder that Giannis remains the rare kind of player whose next decision can reshape the entire league, including the city he once called home. [Read more 🡒]
Brayden Burries Is Giving The Bucks A Rookie Edge They Needed
Brayden Burries has given the Bucks a useful jolt in his first run as a starter, and the early returns have been hard to ignore. Over three starts, he has averaged 8.3 rebounds per game, production that stands out even more because it ranks second among starting guards across the NBA. For a Milwaukee team looking for more edge and extra possessions, that kind of activity from a rookie guard has been a welcome development.
Burries has been especially valuable on the offensive glass, where he is averaging four offensive rebounds per game, the highest mark among starting guards. He has also chipped in as a scorer and playmaker, adding points and assists while showing the kind of all-around promise that can make a young player useful right away. The bigger question now is how much of this early stretch can hold as his role grows and opponents start adjusting to him. [Read more 🡒]