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What Bucks Need to Fix Most After Hectic 2026 Offseason
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- What Bucks Need to Fix Most After Hectic 2026 Offseason
The Milwaukee Bucks have done a lot of work this offseason to establish a strong foundation in the wake of trading away Giannis Antetokounmpo after months of tumult in the locker room and one of the more disappointing Bucks seasons in recent memory, and while they've built a good core to center a rebuilt around, there is still work to be done .
The biggest thing for the Bucks to address is in their forwards and centers. The back court stands out by far as the strongest piece of the Bucks roster at the moment, with Tyler Herro , Ryan Rollins and Brayden Burries highlighting the back court and Gary Trent Jr., Caris LeVert and Kasparas Jakucionis rounding things out, but after that things looks less certain.
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Jaime Jaquez Jr. will be stepping into a starting role for the first time in his career for the Bucks as their resident small forward, and Jaquez Jr. has only continued to grow as a scorer in his NBA career, making a serious case for Sixth Man of the Year with the Miami Heat last season, and he'll be backed up by Ousmane Dieng, but the depth after that is thin.
Miami Heat guard Jaime Jaquez Jr. (11) handles the ball against Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges (0) during the second quarter during the play-in rounds between the Charlotte Hornets and the Miami Heat of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Spectrum Center. Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
Lacking Front Court Depth
The Bucks don't have a dedicated wing to be the third option at the three, instead relying on either Trent Jr., Nate Ament or Kyle Kuzma to step out from their typical positions to fill the role if need be.
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The case is similar for both the power forward and center slots as well. Kuzma is projected to be the opening day starter at the four and Myles Turner at the five, but neither have proved to be reliable options for the Bucks in their respective times in Milwaukee.
Milwaukee Bucks forward Kyle Kuzma (18) defends Brooklyn Nets guard Nolan Traoré (88) during the first quarter at Fiserv Forum. Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
Ament, whom the Bucks drafted in the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft with the pick they acquired from the Heat, and Kel'el Ware, whom the Bucks received in the trade with the Heat, will be the second options at the four and the five respectively, but both are young and relatively untested, something that is common in a rebuild, but could still be a point of concern for Milwaukee.
Need to Add Size
The biggest issue for the Bucks is a lack of reliable size or scoring in the front court past the starters and that lack of depth could be a huge problem as the season drags on.
Milwaukee Bucks center Myles Turner (3) holds the ball away from Brooklyn Nets guard Malachi Smith (18) during the first quarter at Fiserv Forum. Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
There is still some time left in the offseason for the Bucks to address these deficits in free agency, notably in a move for Jonathan Kuminga or Peyton Watson, but even if they don't make major pushes for any premier free agents, something does need to be done to add some security to the Milwaukee bench if they want to be able to sustain their season in the later months.
