The Bucks can talk themselves into a lot of things this summer, but Jalen Duren shouldn’t be one of them if the goal is fixing the biggest hole in the young core.
Milwaukee’s problem isn’t just a need for talent. It’s a need for a real point guard - someone who can organize an offense, get teammates into rhythm and take pressure off everyone else.
Duren doesn’t answer that. He’s a center, and in this case that matters because the Bucks already have a roster that leans more toward scoring guards and combo guards than a true floor general.
That’s why the better long-term swing for Milwaukee is still at point guard, not in the frontcourt. In today’s NBA, that position carries real weight, and the Bucks’ young group needs someone who can actually steer the offense. Duren, for all the appeal he brings as a big man, doesn’t solve that issue at all.
If Milwaukee is searching for the closest thing it has to a natural playmaker, the answer is Kasparas Jakucionis, who came over in the trade package for Giannis Antetokounmpo this summer. But “unproven” barely covers it. Jakucionis just finished a rookie season in which he played 53 games and averaged 6.2 points and 2.6 assists per game, which is not exactly the kind of résumé that makes a team comfortable handing over the keys.
Ryan Rollins was the Bucks’ point guard last season, and to his credit, he made real strides. He took a noticeable step forward and became a valued part of the young core. Even so, his best fit still looks more like a secondary creator than the guy who has to run everything.
Rollins has the size and shooting to hold down a shooting guard spot for years, and he’s at his best when he can slide into a combo role and attack as a scorer with some playmaking on the side. What Milwaukee still lacks is enough creation around him to make that setup work if he’s the primary ball handler.
That’s where Duren’s fit gets even shakier. A big scoring season is one thing, but he didn’t do much to lift the people around him. He might give the Bucks a lob target and some easy finishes, but he’s not going to make the kind of reads and setups a point guard does.
And with Duren reportedly wanting money north of $40 million per season, the bar gets even higher. A contract like that makes sense only if he’s functioning as a major offensive engine. For Milwaukee, that still sounds like the wrong position to spend that kind of money on.
In Other News...
Draymond Green Just Turned Bucks Anxiety Into A Bigger Debate
Draymond Green has a way of turning one teams uncomfortable week into a league-wide conversation, and the Bucks found themselves in that spot after he weighed in on two separate podcast episodes. One topic was Tyler Herros photoshoot tribute to T.J. Ford, which Green criticized, and the other was the NBAs investigation into Milwaukee over possible salary cap circumvention involving Gary Trent Jr. Together, the remarks added another layer of scrutiny to a franchise already drawing attention for reasons it would rather keep quiet.
Green also spent time talking through what the league could do if the Bucks are found guilty, raising the stakes around a probe that is still hanging over the organization. His comments quickly became a point of debate for fans and former players alike, with the photoshoot criticism and the investigation both feeding a broader argument about how Milwaukee is being viewed right now. For a team trying to stay focused on basketball, the noise around it does not seem likely to fade soon. [Read more 🡒]
Bucks Suddenly Have A Real Shot In Jalen Duren Drama
Jalen Durens contract situation in Detroit has become one of the more intriguing items on the NBA radar, and the Bucks are among the teams watching closely. The Pistons put a massive offer on the table, but Duren declined it, and theres now a looming deadline tied to a qualifying offer that could shape his next move. What made the whole thing even more notable was the inclusion of a weight clause in Detroits proposal, a detail that reportedly caught Duren and his camp off guard.
For Milwaukee, the appeal is obvious. The Bucks have shown interest, and any real opening around a young center with upside is worth monitoring, especially when the players current team is dealing with internal debate about his value. Whether Detroit can repair the relationship, or whether Duren decides his best path lies elsewhere, should come into focus soon, and the Bucks will be waiting to see how much of a shot this really becomes. [Read more 🡒]
Bucks Are Treating Taylor Jenkins Like Far More Than A New Coach
The Bucks did not just swap out a coach this offseason, they made a point of signaling a broader change in tone. Taylor Jenkins arrived on a long-term deal after Milwaukee moved on from Doc Rivers, and the early messaging around him has been as much about setting a standard as it has been about drawing up plays. Co-owner Wes Edens offered pointed backing for Jenkins, leaning on the success he had in Memphis and framing the hire as a serious investment in where the franchise is headed.
At media day, the emphasis around Jenkins kept coming back to accountability and growth, the kind of language teams usually use when they want to show a clean break from the previous chapter. For Milwaukee, the appeal seems to be bigger than a fresh voice on the sideline. Jenkins is being positioned as someone who can shape the day-to-day culture, steady the locker room and push the group toward a higher level, which makes his first season here feel like more than a standard coaching change. [Read more 🡒]