Tracking the larger sentiments of Bucks fans week by week
Rather than get too deep into the trade waters in this piece, whose questions may look very out-of-date in the coming days (or even hours), I’ll start by just mentioning that rumors connecting Kyle Kuzma to the Bucks have picked up in the last day, and you can read more about what that trade might look like here. Instead, let’s talk about team needs. If the past week or so has taught me anything, it’s that Milwaukee has two very obvious holes to fill on their roster: a point-of-attack defender and a fourth big man.
Regarding someone in the backcourt, I threw out a few trade ideas earlier this morning, and I think there’d be something realistic in there for both the Bucks and their trade partner. Milwaukee’s best perimeter defender is Andre Jackson Jr., followed by Gary Trent Jr., AJ Green, and Ryan Rollins in some order. It’s tough to trust the latter three consistently, though they’ve all had their moments, like Trent on Tyrese Haliburton or Green on Tyrese Maxey (though that was last spring, I admit). The problem with AJax, beyond the fouls and offense, is that he struggles against smaller guards. Wings and larger ball handlers like Cade Cunningham or SGA (in the NBA Cup Final, not last night!) he is better suited for; Jalen Brunson and Donovan Mitchell he is decidedly not.
An additional frontcourt option is not necessarily a rotation player for the Bucks, especially when all three of Giannis, Brook Lopez, and Bobby Portis are playing. Of course, the latter has missed the last four games (all our best to the Portis family), and that’s put a lot of pressure on the two healthy guys. Prior to the past week, I came to look at another center-capable big man as more of an insurance policy than a postseason necessity. As I explained in this profile of Milwaukee native Kevon Looney, a switchable big man would be great in the playoffs if the matchup was unfavorable to Lopez and/or Portis was being played off the floor, as has happened in many series. Now, such a player looks like the difference between losing five of their last six and something more respectable like 3-3.
So which do the Bucks need more? Hard to say. It might not be possible to address both at the deadline, and I think they’d have an easier time finding a center in the buyout market if they open up a roster spot. I think I’d pick a POA guy because if he’s good enough, he could slot in the rotation every night, and I think Jackson is simply not consistent enough to be an every-night player yet.
In this week’s Tuesday Tracker, we’ll touch on the Kuzma rumor and take one last look at other trade possibilities. We’ll also consider scenarios for a couple Bucks outside the rotation whose roster spots may be in jeopardy over the coming few weeks.
As always, this poll will be open until midnight Central on Friday, and we’ll post the results later that day. Thanks for voting!