The Bucks’ second preseason game offered a glimpse of one lineup wrinkle that could matter later: Kel’el Ware starting alongside Myles Turner.
Taylor Jenkins made the switch against Oklahoma City after Kyle Kuzma started Milwaukee’s previous preseason game against Minnesota. Kuzma logged 20 minutes in Monday’s 116-97 loss and went 0-for-6 from the field, finishing with five rebounds and one assist. Ware, who came off the bench in that game, was Milwaukee’s second-leading scorer with 14 points, 12 rebounds, one block and one steal on 5-for-11 shooting.
Then came Wednesday in Oklahoma City, where Ware didn’t just stay in the opening five - he helped drive a 128-126 Bucks win. Kuzma did not play, while Ware led the team in minutes with 24 and posted 18 points, 12 rebounds and one block on 7-for-13 shooting.
It’s still preseason, and Jenkins has already made clear in camp that he plans to test different combinations. With a roster full of new pieces and plenty of depth, he isn’t approaching this like a coach tied to one set unit.
That was on display with two seven-footers in the starting lineup. Turner led Milwaukee with 19 points, five rebounds and two blocks while shooting 5-for-8 from the field, and Ware was right there with him as one of the game’s top producers.
One preseason game doesn’t settle anything, especially with Oklahoma City’s starters sitting out the second half. But Ware at the four has long been a talking point for Milwaukee fans, and this showing only strengthens the case that it could happen more often during the season.
When Ware arrived, there were a few paths in play. He could back up Turner, push his way into the starting group, or force Turner into a different role altogether, even one that could eventually lead elsewhere. If Milwaukee keeps Ware and Turner together, though, the ripple effect hits the center depth.
Right now, the Bucks have three other centers on the preseason roster beyond Ware and Turner: Jericho Sims, Johni Broome and Jake Stephens. Broome and Stephens are both on Exhibit 10 deals, and Broome was signed just three days ago, which leaves Sims as the only one with a clear established spot after spending the last two seasons in Milwaukee.
Sims had the busiest season of his career last year, appearing in 67 games and averaging 5.0 points and 5.5 rebounds while shooting 78.4% from the field. His value comes from rebounding, screening, rolling hard to the rim and protecting the paint at 6-foot-10.
He fills a role, and he does it well enough, but there are limits. Sims doesn’t stretch the floor or create much offense on his own, which can make life cramped when he’s on the court with the second unit.
Milwaukee could live with that depending on the lineup, since he wouldn’t be asked to carry the offense. Even so, the spacing gets tighter and the lane gets crowded. Bogoljub Marković is another possibility because he’s also 6-foot-10 and can shoot it from outside, but he’s a rookie from Serbia and not as physically developed as Sims.
Jenkins will almost certainly manage Ware and Turner’s minutes so they aren’t sitting at the same time for long stretches. Still, if foul trouble or injuries pop up, the Bucks don’t have many other options who can swing things at both ends the way those two can.
In Other News...
Jaime Jaquez Jr. Is Giving The Bucks A Tough Early Decision
Jaime Jaquez Jr.s first few preseason outings in Milwaukee have not offered much comfort for a team trying to sort out its long-term picture. Through the first two games, the young wing has had trouble finding a rhythm, and the early returns have only complicated the Bucks evaluation of where he fits as they continue building out the roster.
The timing makes it especially tricky because Milwaukee has a decision looming on whether to lock in a rookie-scale extension before the October 19 deadline. With Jaquez still searching for cleaner production and a more convincing on-court case, the Bucks are left weighing patience against the risk of waiting too long to settle a key piece of business. [Read more 🡒]
Ryan Rollins Is Already Forcing A Bucks Backcourt Debate
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Tyler Herro, by contrast, is still searching for his rhythm, and the contrast has been hard to miss in the first exhibition games. Preseason is a thin reed to lean on, especially with so much of the season still ahead, but the Bucks at least have a real discussion forming around who should steer the backcourt first when the games start counting. [Read more 🡒]
Brayden Burries Is Forcing A Bucks Rotation Question
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For a Bucks team still sorting out its bench mix, Burries has at least created a real question. Taylor Jenkins has already pointed to defense as the area that could determine whether the rookie gets more court time, and that makes the next stretch of preseason work especially important. If Burries can keep bringing the same poise while proving he can stay in the right spots defensively, the case for a larger role gets a lot harder to ignore. [Read more 🡒]