The Milwaukee Bucks are shopping for a fresh direction, and two young forwards have surfaced as possible answers: Jonathan Kuminga and Peyton Watson.
That search comes after a franchise reset that changed everything around Giannis Antetokounmpo. The two-time MVP was traded in June to the Miami Heat, and Milwaukee received Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kel'el Ware and Kasparas Jakučionis, along with three first-round picks, a pick swap and a second-round pick.
The Bucks also added two rookies, Brayden Burries and Nate Ament, who were taken with Miami’s No. 13 pick. With so much turnover, Milwaukee’s roster is set to look almost nothing like it did before.
The results last season showed how much work remains. The Bucks finished 32-50, and Antetokounmpo played in just 36 games.
Even with him in the lineup, the roster fit had been shaky. Without him, expectations for next season are low, which is why Milwaukee has started circling players who could matter for a younger group.
Kuminga is one of them. NBA Insider Jake Fischer reported earlier this month that Milwaukee was a possible landing spot for the Atlanta Hawks forward. Fischer said, "Kuminga could still go back to Atlanta, he could still leave by way of sign and trade," and added, "I have heard that he does have interest from Milwaukee, they have a traded player exception that he could be moved into."
The 23-year-old is coming off his fifth NBA season and his first with the Hawks after being traded by the Golden State Warriors before the trade deadline this year. He played 36 games overall, including 20 with Golden State and 16 with Atlanta, and averaged 12.2 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.3 assists while shooting 46.3% from the field and 33.3% from 3-point range. Kuminga entered free agency as an unrestricted free agent after declining his $24.3 million team option with Atlanta.
Watson, though, has also entered the conversation. Marc Stein reported that Milwaukee has interest in the Denver Nuggets forward and would look at a sign-and-trade. Stein said, "The Nuggets, mind you, still have two restricted free agents of their own to hash out deals with: Peyton Watson and Spencer Jones," and added, "And some fresh rumbles have been relayed to The Stein Line that the Bucks are joining the Clippers and Hawks on the list of teams trying to pry Watson away from the Nuggets via sign-and-trade."
Watson turned in a breakout season in his fourth year with Denver, averaging 14.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.1 blocks per game while shooting 49.1% from the field and 41.1% from deep. He is seeking roughly a $25 million deal, and Denver’s existing payroll could make it tough to keep him.
Milwaukee’s own financial situation complicates the picture. The Bucks could only offer the non-taxpayer mid-level exception, which starts around $15 million, and Denver could simply match that.
That leaves a sign-and-trade as the more realistic path for Watson, though it would still come at a cost. The Bucks would have to decide whether giving up assets such as Ryan Rollins and future first-round picks is too steep.
There is another route, though. A package built around players like AJ Green or Kevin Porter Jr. could help Denver by adding bench depth, clearing roster congestion and matching salary without forcing Milwaukee to surrender premium assets. Stein also noted that the Bucks have explored sign-and-trade scenarios for Watson, and that Green and Porter Jr. could interest Denver if talks move forward.
Kuminga presents a different kind of challenge. Because the Hawks already declined his team option, Atlanta could lose him to free agency, but Milwaukee would still likely need a sign-and-trade if it wants to land him.
With Kuminga looking for more than $20 million annually, the Bucks’ best direct offer would still be limited by their cap situation. A deal using the $25.5 million trade exception from the Heat trade, plus additional pieces, would be a more workable path.
If Milwaukee has to choose, the decision is not simple. Watson may be the better player and the cleaner fit, especially because of his defense, but he is also the harder get because Denver has more control as a restricted free agent. Kuminga is the easier target, lower risk and still only 23, even if Watson’s upside and fit may be more appealing.
For now, the Bucks are in the market for help, and both names fit the profile of what they need. The question is whether they want the easier swing or the more complicated one.