Show summary Hide summary
The Milwaukee Bucks’ offseason makeover has created a roster rich in shooters — and a selection problem for coach Taylor Jenkins. To get the most from their floor-spacing, one of the team’s two hybrid wings, Kyle Kuzma or Jaime Jaquez Jr., appears set to lose a starting spot and come off the bench.
Spacing and center options reshape the starting five
The presence of rim-stretching bigs changes the calculus. With Myles Turner and Kel’el Ware available at center, Milwaukee can build a lineup that surrounds a physical power forward with shooters on every wing and the perimeter. That configuration would open driving lanes for the wings and create frequent kick-outs to open shooters.
NCAA files suit contesting Ohio governor’s order on fifth-year eligibility
Wisconsin’s homecoming matchup with Michigan State: three predictions
In that scenario, either Kuzma or Jaquez fits best as the lone non-shooter at the four, using physical play and interior scoring to complement the team’s shooters. The alternative—starting both wings together—would preserve two strong interior attackers but could compromise spacing and limit outside opportunities.
Coach Jenkins’ choices remain open
Jenkins could still opt to field both Kuzma and Jaquez alongside three consistent shooters. The club’s backcourt depth complicates roster decisions: several young guards have pushed for rotation minutes while established vets expect meaningful roles.
How the coach balances those talents ahead of the season opener is still uncertain. Each lineup choice carries trade-offs between floor spacing, driving lanes and bench scoring balance.
Why one wing may be better as the sixth man
Both Kuzma and Jaquez excel as inverted wings—more physical attackers who finish at the rim than classic perimeter creators. Playing them together risks clogging the floor, so one stepping into a sixth-man role could be the most effective way to keep the offense balanced.
Jaquez finished as the runner-up in Sixth Man of the Year voting last season, averaging 15.4 points, five rebounds and 4.7 assists. Kuzma started 43 of 69 games for the Bucks last year as the team sought a consistent formula. He averaged 13 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.7 assists, while hitting 34.7 percent from three—one of his better shooting seasons in his nine-year career.
Both players enter the final year of their contracts and could become trade candidates. That fact adds another layer to the decision: starting roles matter for contract value, but a strong bench role can still showcase a player’s impact and boost trade or extension prospects.
For Jaquez, in particular, a productive role off the bench could help erase questions from a difficult sophomore campaign. His 2025-26 season positioned him for a potential extension—either in Milwaukee or elsewhere—if he can build on that performance.
