Jaime Jaquez Jr. earned his reputation last season with the kind of scoring that gets noticed fast. What didn’t get nearly as much attention was the way he moved the ball. That part of his game was easy to miss, but it may be the most underrated piece in his toolkit.
The problem now is that a move to the Milwaukee Bucks could shrink that side of his game. Milwaukee’s roster is crowded with guards who can handle the ball, and that usually means fewer chances for someone like Jaquez to initiate and create.
Last season in Miami, Jaquez had room to operate because the Heat didn’t have many true primary ball-handlers, and Tyler Herro missed a sizeable chunk of the year. Jaquez handled the extra responsibility well. He finished with 348 assists, the second-most in the league among bench players, and that was almost 200 more than he had the season before.
That kind of growth made him look more complete. But the setup in Milwaukee is very different.
The Bucks have a loaded group of guards, including Tyler Herro, Ryan Rollins, Kevin Porter Jr., and the young duo of Kasparas Jakucionis and Brayden Burries. All of them need touches, and that could squeeze Jaquez out of the playmaking role that helped elevate him.
Passing won’t be the main way Jaquez makes his living. His bench scoring led the entire league in total points last season. Still, it’s a skill Milwaukee should want to tap into.
A lot depends on how he’s used. The Bucks will feature him, but there’s real uncertainty about whether he starts or comes off the bench. That decision matters because starting next to Herro and Rollins or Porter could cut into both his scoring and his passing opportunities.
There’s also a strong case for keeping him in that sixth-man role. If that happens, he could continue to run the second unit most nights, with Rollins or Porter beside him depending on who starts.
Either way, with so much guard talent around him, Jaquez probably won’t come close to matching his career-high assist total again. Even so, it remains one of the more valuable parts of his game, and one the Bucks should be ready to use.
In Other News...
Kyle Kuzma Weighs In On A WNBA Fight Fans Are Arguing Over
Enes Kanters appearance at the Indiana Fever-Chicago Sky game turned into a scene that quickly spread beyond the arena, after a verbal confrontation with Sky guard Natasha Cloud led to Kanter being escorted out. Kanter, who has said she intends to declare for the 2027 WNBA Draft and identifies as a woman, was already a notable presence at the game before the exchange escalated into one of the nights bigger talking points.
Milwaukee Bucks forward Kyle Kuzma then jumped into the conversation on social media, adding another layer to a situation that has been drawing plenty of reaction from fans. The incident has put a spotlight on the tension around Kanters public profile and how the league and its players are being pulled into a debate that is far bigger than one game in Indianapolis. [Read more 🡒]
Bucks Are Being Warned Against Another Risky All-In Move
The Bucks have spent enough time chasing bold fixes to know how quickly an all-in move can reshape a roster, and the latest idea floating around would fit that mold. A sign-and-trade for Jalen Duren would bring in a talented young big, but it would also ask Milwaukee to part with meaningful pieces in a deal that carries real long-term risk. Even with the appeal of adding size and upside, this is the kind of transaction that can look tidy on paper while quietly draining the depth and flexibility a contender needs.
What makes the warning worth hearing is the bigger picture around Milwaukees approach. Rather than swing for another expensive shake-up, the case for the Bucks is to keep the roster intact, let the current group breathe, and continue building value where they already have it. Durens playoff showing may have nudged him into the conversation, but for a team trying to stay competitive without boxing itself in, restraint could end up being the smarter path. [Read more 🡒]
Bucks Face A Risky Jonathan Kuminga Decision After Missing Again
The Bucks are still working the forward market after missing out on Peyton Watson, and Jonathan Kuminga has emerged as a possibility in a sign-and-trade. Milwaukees interest makes sense on paper. The roster needs more size and athleticism on the wing after the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade, and Kuminga remains one of the more intriguing young forwards available, even if his career has come with uneven production and questions about how his game translates.
For Milwaukee, this is not just a talent bet. It is a style and money decision, too, because Kumingas track record has prompted real concern about whether his game fits a contender trying to tighten its margins. Any move would also come down to how much confidence the Bucks have in Taylor Jenkins to shape him into a better fit, which is why this talks phase feels as important as the eventual price tag. [Read more 🡒]