Jaime Jaquez Jr. isn’t losing sleep over his next contract, even if the Bucks’ long-term plans with him are still very much up in the air.
After landing in Milwaukee as part of the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade, Jaquez is expected to have a bigger role with his new team. But for now, he’s only under contract for one more season unless the two sides work out an extension. Asked about that situation in a recent interview with the Miami Herald’s Anthony Chiang, Jaquez kept it simple:
"We’ll see when that time comes. I’m not really too worried about that right now."
That fits the tone Jaquez has taken since arriving in Milwaukee. Rather than dwell on the next deal, he appears focused on settling in with the Bucks and making the most of the opportunity in front of him. At 25, he’s coming off the best season of his career, and there’s a clear path to even more responsibility next year.
Jaquez also has reason to believe a strong season could put him in a good spot financially. The Bucks have already handed out player-friendly contracts, so if he performs, he may not have much to worry about when the time comes.
That said, this doesn’t look like a situation where an extension is close right now. In Miami, Jaquez had talked about the possibility of a new deal with the Heat and sounded eager to land long-term security. Since joining Milwaukee, though, he’s been far quieter on that front.
Part of that is probably just the reality of a new team and a new situation. But it also makes sense that the Bucks have less incentive to commit immediately.
Miami drafted Jaquez with the 18th pick in 2023 and got more than expected right away. He finished fourth in Rookie of the Year voting as a rookie and second in Sixth Man of the Year voting last season, which naturally built a strong connection with the Heat’s front office.
Milwaukee doesn’t have that kind of history with him yet. Right now, Jaquez is simply part of the return for moving on from Giannis. Still, that could change quickly if he produces like he did last season, when he averaged 15 points, five rebounds, and five assists per game.
And even if the Bucks don’t get something done before the October deadline, they’ll still have a major advantage in keeping him. Jaquez would remain under their control through restricted free agency next summer, giving Milwaukee the right to match any offer another team makes.
So the Bucks have options. If they decide Jaquez is worth a bigger investment, they can extend him before anyone else gets involved. If they think the market pushes his value too high, they can wait and see how it plays out.
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Nate Aments first Summer League run has given Bucks fans enough to squint at the draft board a little differently, especially with Chicagos Dailyn Swain in the same neighborhood of the first round. Ament, taken 13th overall by Milwaukee, has shown some early signs of touch and comfort, while Swain, selected two spots later by the Bulls, has been trying to find a rhythm in a much rougher opening stretch.
It is still far too early to make anything definitive out of a few summer games, and both players are clearly in the earliest stage of their pro careers. Even so, the contrast has been hard to miss for anyone tracking how the Bucks choice stacks up against the rest of the draft, and the next step for Ament will be proving that the encouraging flashes are part of something real rather than just a brief summer snapshot. [Read more 🡒]
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Milwaukee does have the kind of cap room that could get Watson close to the salary he is seeking, but only if it clears space by moving players such as Kyle Kuzma, Caris LeVert or A.J. Green. The bigger question is whether Denver is willing to engage at all, since the Nuggets are believed to be looking for a significant return, which is why this one figures to stay fluid until the market sorts itself out. [Read more 🡒]
Bucks Just Made A Signing Fans Are Already Debating
Gary Trents new deal with Milwaukee has already become one of the summers most talked-about moves, and not just because the Bucks added another wing to the rotation. The contract has drawn immediate attention around the league, with NBA insider Marc Stein reporting that the reaction has been far more surprised than celebratory, a sign that front offices are still trying to make sense of how this signing came together.
The skepticism is easy to understand when you look at Trents recent production, since he averaged 8.1 points per game last season while shooting 38.7% from the floor. Even so, the Bucks clearly saw enough to make a major commitment, and the real question now is whether Milwaukee believes it found value where others saw risk, or whether this will quickly become one of those moves every contender gets asked about all season. [Read more 🡒]