The Milwaukee Bucks have opened a lane for Jaime Jaquez Jr., and it’s the kind of chance he can’t afford to let slip.
With Ryan Rollins moved to the bench in favor of Brayden Burries, Milwaukee’s two leaders in assists per game are now coming off the second unit, with Kasparas Jakucionis as the other. That leaves a clear need in the starting group: somebody has to keep the offense organized and moving. Jaquez looks like the obvious candidate to take on more of that responsibility.
He’s already shown he can do it.
Last season, in his runner-up finish for Sixth Man of the Year, Jaquez was one of the NBA’s best reserve playmakers. He piled up 348 total assists, which ranked second in the league, because the Miami Heat trusted him to run the bench offense. That part of his game had taken a back seat early this year with the Bucks, but Rollins’ move to the second unit changes the equation.
Brayden Burries and Tyler Herro can both handle the ball, but neither is a true point guard in the purest sense. Both will have to absorb more of the ball-handling load now that Rollins is out of the starting mix, yet Jaquez’s presence should ease that burden. His ability to organize possessions gives Milwaukee another steady hand and lets Burries and Herro lean into what they do best.
That should mean a bigger role for Jaquez in the passing game than he’s had to start the season.
There’s also the contract angle hanging over all of this. Jaquez is set for a new deal next summer, and he’s already looked worthy of a raise. His scoring has reached new heights, and if his passing takes another jump in this new setup, his value could keep climbing.
Of course, for that to really pay off, the Bucks need to convert some of the looks Jaquez creates. That’s been a problem early on. Only two Milwaukee players are shooting better than 38 percent on catch-and-shoot threes this season: Jaquez, who is at 50 percent, and Gary Trent Jr., who is 1-for-1.
So the path is there. Jaquez is already in the middle of the best season of his career, and now he has a fresh opening to make even more noise as a passer.
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Bucks May Already Regret Passing On This Fast-Rising Rookie
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For Milwaukee, the early returns only sharpen the question of whether passing on a fast-rising talent like Lendeborg might come back to sting them. The age concerns that followed him into the draft have done little to slow his development so far, and his play is starting to look less like a short-term surprise and more like a sign of a higher ceiling than some teams were willing to project. [Read more 🡒]
Bucks Rookie Suddenly Fits The Identity Milwaukee Wants To Build
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Even with the missed shots, Jenkins pointed to Burries pace and work on the glass as reasons for encouragement, and those are the kinds of traits that tend to earn more trust quickly in Milwaukee. If the Bucks are serious about leaning into speed and energy, Burries looks like a rookie who may keep finding his way onto the floor as the opportunities grow. [Read more 🡒]
Bucks Pulled Into A Frontcourt Rumor That Could Change Their Plans
The Bucks have been pulled into a frontcourt rumor that could ripple well beyond one trade deadline conversation, with Golden State reportedly looking for help at center and Milwaukee mentioned as a possible partner. The framework being discussed would send Kristaps Porzingis, Gui Santos and a future first-round pick in exchange for a Bucks big man such as Kelel Ware or Myles Turner, a construction that immediately raises questions about fit, value and how much either side would be willing to change course.
For Milwaukee, the intrigue is obvious because a deal like this would touch both the roster and the books, and the financial side may matter as much as the basketball fit. For Golden State, the appeal is just as clear if the Warriors are serious about upgrading the middle, but for now it remains only a rumor, with no official transaction in place and plenty of room for the conversation to shift before anything gets real. [Read more 🡒]