Tyler Herro’s first two preseason games with the Milwaukee Bucks haven’t exactly screamed “extension case.”
That’s the stage he’s on right now, too. Herro is one of several players trying to prove he belongs in the Bucks’ long-term plans, but he’s under the brightest spotlight because he’s the former All-Star in the group, the one people expect to take another step. Through two preseason appearances, though, he’s been steady rather than explosive, and that’s not the kind of start that jumps off the page when a bigger payday is in the conversation.
Herro has averaged 12 points, three rebounds and three assists while shooting 44 percent from the floor. Those are fine numbers in a vacuum, but they don’t quite match the level of production you’d want to see from a player hoping for an extension north of $35 million. In Taylor Jenkins’ system, that kind of number is going to need a lot more punch behind it.
A big part of the adjustment has been role-related. Herro is getting used to being the top option and the guy defenses key on from the opening tip. That has opened some passing lanes and created a few decent looks away from the ball, but scoring is still his calling card, and nine shots per game is a much quieter workload than many probably expected entering the preseason.
There’s also a pretty obvious reason to keep the early sample in perspective: it’s early. Two games is two games.
Herro is still learning the people around him and easing into the system, while Jenkins has spread the minutes around in preseason fashion. All but two Bucks have averaged double-digit minutes so far, and that kind of rotation can make it tough for anyone to settle in and find a rhythm.
Even so, it would help if Herro showed a little more life soon, especially with former Heat teammate Kel'el Ware already flashing in the early going.
That’s the bigger picture here. The Bucks have talent, but if Herro is the player expected to drive this group, then his production matters beyond the box score.
If he’s the engine, the whole thing runs better when he’s humming. Right now, he’s still warming up.
The real test comes once the games count, and that’s when he can start putting a stronger stamp on his future.
In Other News...
Jaime Jaquez Jr. Is Giving The Bucks A Tough Early Decision
Jaime Jaquez Jr.s first few preseason outings in Milwaukee have not offered much comfort for a team trying to sort out its long-term picture. Through the first two games, the young wing has had trouble finding a rhythm, and the early returns have only complicated the Bucks evaluation of where he fits as they continue building out the roster.
The timing makes it especially tricky because Milwaukee has a decision looming on whether to lock in a rookie-scale extension before the October 19 deadline. With Jaquez still searching for cleaner production and a more convincing on-court case, the Bucks are left weighing patience against the risk of waiting too long to settle a key piece of business. [Read more 🡒]
Ryan Rollins Is Already Forcing A Bucks Backcourt Debate
With the Bucks still reshaping themselves after the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade, the early preseason has already offered a small but telling glimpse into how the backcourt might sort itself out. Ryan Rollins has taken advantage of the opening, playing with a steadier feel and a clear willingness to organize the offense, the kind of early tone-setting that can matter on a roster still learning itself.
Tyler Herro, by contrast, is still searching for his rhythm, and the contrast has been hard to miss in the first exhibition games. Preseason is a thin reed to lean on, especially with so much of the season still ahead, but the Bucks at least have a real discussion forming around who should steer the backcourt first when the games start counting. [Read more 🡒]
Brayden Burries Is Forcing A Bucks Rotation Question
Brayden Burries kept making the kind of late-game plays that can change a preseason conversation fast. In Milwaukees win over Oklahoma City, he supplied a burst of scoring in the closing minutes, added rebounds and chipped in on the defensive end, showing the sort of composure and two-way energy that coaches tend to notice when rotation spots are still unsettled.
For a Bucks team still sorting out its bench mix, Burries has at least created a real question. Taylor Jenkins has already pointed to defense as the area that could determine whether the rookie gets more court time, and that makes the next stretch of preseason work especially important. If Burries can keep bringing the same poise while proving he can stay in the right spots defensively, the case for a larger role gets a lot harder to ignore. [Read more 🡒]