The Milwaukee Bucks have been circling Peyton Watson for weeks, and that chase still looks like the main event. But if things fall apart, Milwaukee can’t afford to be empty-handed. The market has already started to narrow around Watson, which means the Bucks need a real fallback plan if they strike out.
One of the clearest alternatives is Jonathan Kuminga. Milwaukee has been connected to him as well, and the overlap is obvious: the same teams looking at Watson are also watching Kuminga, which makes it feel like his next move may be tied to Watson’s decision.
If the Bucks land on Kuminga instead, he’d fit as a starting small forward on a younger roster that could use his upside. He’s shown flashes with the Warriors and Hawks as a lively, above-the-rim forward who can impact both ends, but inconsistent playing time has slowed his development.
A clearer role in Milwaukee could give him the runway he hasn’t had yet.
Bennedict Mathurin brings a different kind of possibility. HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto reported that Milwaukee has interest in him, and his market is also waiting on Watson’s situation.
If the Bucks want more offense and more talent in the mix, Mathurin makes sense on that level. The catch is obvious: he’s a guard, and Milwaukee already has plenty of those.
Even so, there’s no denying the appeal of a 24-year-old with room to grow, especially if he ends up in a spot where he’s featured more heavily.
Then there’s DeMar DeRozan, the most established name of the group and the one who would change the tone of the conversation entirely. He just turned 37, which would make him the oldest player on a revamped Bucks roster by a wide margin.
But Milwaukee would be looking at him for what he still provides, not what he used to be. DeRozan averaged his fewest points per game since 2012-13 this past season and still finished at 18.4 points per game.
That kind of production could help fill the small forward spot, and his experience would give a very young group another steady voice.
If Watson doesn’t land in Milwaukee, the Bucks still have options. They just all point in different directions.
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Kyle Kuzma Suddenly Has A Real Chance To Change Everything In Milwaukee
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With Doc Rivers out of the picture and a spot available at power forward, Milwaukee has a chance to redraw part of its rotation around Kuzma. The problem is that the path still looks crowded, with Tyler Herro in the mix and the possibility of another addition changing the pecking order before Kuzma can turn that opportunity into something more permanent. [Read more 🡒]