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Taylor Jenkins has shown he will tinker with his rotation, elevating rookies while sending others to the bench. That experimental approach has improved some areas, but it has left the starting five short on playmaking — a gap the Bucks may need to address soon.
Passing struggles after the lineup change
Replacing Ryan Rollins with Brayden Burries and inserting Nate Ament into the group has shifted Milwaukee’s on-court profile. Both Burries and Tyler Herro can handle the ball, but neither is a traditional playmaker.
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Since Burries joined the starting lineup two games ago, the Bucks’ starters have totaled 29 assists, a figure that ranks 27th in the NBA. That drop contrasts with the team’s more average assist numbers when Rollins was opening games.
Rollins is not a prototypical point guard, but he has shown better passing instincts than Burries or Herro. If Jaime Jaquez Jr. does not begin to shoulder more of the distribution duties, Milwaukee risks limiting its offense by lacking a clear floor general to initiate ball movement.
Why Kasparas Jakucionis could matter
Kajucionis — acquired as part of the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade — is the roster’s only true point guard. He is averaging roughly four assists per game, second on the team behind Rollins, and offers a dedicated playmaking skill set that the current starting five lacks.
Moving Jakucionis into the starting group and sliding Burries back to a bench role would separate the Bucks’ best distributors. That configuration would let Jakucionis run the offense with the first unit while Rollins handles playmaking duties in reserve minutes.
Potential benefits and role adjustments
Such a switch could accelerate Jakucionis’ development in his second season and give Rollins increased responsibility off the bench. Burries would return to a more natural position, and Herro could spend more time in an off-ball role where he has been effective.
The change would not be dramatic. Herro appears secure in his starting spot for now. Still, with Jenkins already comfortable reshuffling minutes, a tweak to restore a true distributor in the starting five seems likely if the passing issues persist.
