The Bucks didn’t get a full read on their new-look roster in Monday’s preseason opener, and that makes the next exhibition against the Oklahoma City Thunder worth watching a little closer.
Milwaukee used 14 of its 21 players in the 116-97 loss to the Timberwolves, leaving several names on the sideline as head coach Taylor Jenkins keeps sorting through who fits where. Jenkins said Tuesday that more of those players could get a chance soon, though not necessarily all of them.
"I anticipate working in some of those guys; not sure if it'll be all of the guys," Jenkins said during media availability on Tuesday. "Get with the staff on our flight to OKC; just continue this ramp-up for our guys, but also want to see the depth of our roster and just see guys that are committing to what we're talking about.
Obviously, first exposure yesterday; there were some good moments, but definitely a lot of areas for improvement. So we focused on that today, and regardless of who plays tomorrow, we expect them to hopefully take strides in a positive direction."
Among the seven players who didn’t see the floor against Minnesota, three stand out as names to track: Kasparas Jakucionis, Ousmane Dieng and Bogoljub Markovic.
Jakucionis came into the offseason as one of the more intriguing pieces from the Antetokounmpo trade to the Miami Heat, and plenty of Bucks fans were waiting to see him in action on Monday. The 20-year-old’s rookie production with Miami - 6.2 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game while shooting 42.3% from 3-point range - didn’t jump off the page, but the appeal is in the full package: shooting, playmaking and a high basketball IQ.
He also showed he could handle meaningful minutes in Miami, and now he’ll try to carve out that same kind of role in Milwaukee despite a crowded backcourt. Jakucionis said the part of the game he leans on most is the one that feels most natural.
"Pick and rolls, that's all I've been doing in my life except last year because we didn't play much pick and rolls but that, I think is my nature," Jakucionis said during shootaround on Monday. "I always feel the most comfortable playing pick and roll, so I'm kind of feeling good about that and just excited."
Dieng, meanwhile, was one of the few bright spots from a rough season. After being acquired at the trade deadline from the Thunder and then traded three times in less than 24 hours, he eventually landed in Milwaukee and made the most of it.
He played 30 games for the Bucks and averaged 11.0 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game, with a career-high 36 points against the Houston Rockets in April. That stretch convinced Milwaukee to keep him around on a three-year, $17.5 million contract.
Dieng said last Tuesday that the chance to get consistent run made the difference.
"Since I got here last year, I had more opportunities, more reps, felt good with the team, the city, the fans, so I feel like it was the obvious choice for me, honestly," Dieng said.
He also pointed to the boost in confidence that came with those minutes and reps.
"I think a lot of things. I think most of it was I got to like grow my confidence up with like I said, a lot of minutes, a lot of reps. So, it just felt good and I just felt good."
That confidence showed in a real way last season. Dieng became a source of offense, creating his own shot, scoring in double figures 20 times and helping generate looks for teammates. He’s one of the players who could still take another step and become a more important part of the rotation.
Then there’s Markovic, the Bucks’ No. 47 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. Rather than coming over immediately, he spent one more season with Mega Basket in the Adriatic League, and the move paid off with a league MVP award after he averaged 18.9 points, 8.9 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.0 steal and 1.0 blocked shot.
Markovic signed with Milwaukee on July 1 to a four-year, $9.3 million deal, and this preseason will be the first real look many fans get at what he can bring. At 6-foot-10, he’s described as mobile and fluid with the ball, a scorer who can work inside, handle the floor in transition, use footwork in the post and step out for 3-pointers.
He also brings passing feel, with a tendency to find teammates out of the post. In seven summer league games this year, Markovic averaged 10.0 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.0 block while shooting 42.4% from the field.
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