The Milwaukee Bucks remain active in sign-and-trade discussions across the league, eyeing some of the best names still available. In those talks, teams will certainly look to acquire Milwaukee's desirable young players. One such player who would be an enticing asset is Kasparas Jakucionis, but the team should draw a firm line in the sand and let it be known that he's not there for the taking.
Jakucionis is one of Bucks' most potential-filled players
General Manager Jon Horst was adamant about getting Jakucionis from the Heat in any trade that involved Giannis Antetokounmpo. Speaking after making the deal, he specifically said, "There was not a deal that we would have done that didn’t have each of these four players in it, including Kasparas." Horst name-dropping Jakucionis should not be overlooked, and for good reason.
The guard, having just turned 20 years old, has so much potential. He's tall, sturdy, has tremendous passing chops, and is an excellent perimeter shooter. All of that became clear throughout his rookie year with the Miami Heat. He has just scratched the surface of his potential, and now the Bucks have an opportunity to unearth a player who could be their floor general for years to come.
Milwaukee shouldn't give up on him so quickly. Sure, players like Peyton Watson, Jonathan Kuminga, and Bennedict Mathurin are more proven, but that doesn't mean the Bucks should jump ship. They're now in an era where they can afford to be more patient and actually develop players. Dumping him at this point would be a brutal blow after he was such a crucial piece in Giannis talks.
How Bucks should proceed in ongoing sign-and-trade talks
Brayden Burries and Kasparas Jakucionis should be off limits in these discussions. Those two could be the backcourt of the future in Milwaukee. Even with those two off the table, the Bucks should still look to move a guard or two in an effort to reduce the bodies in the backcourt. Ryan Rollins and Tyler Herro look poised to stay, while Gary Trent Jr. is likely unmovable. That leaves a few options.
If he had any suitors, Caris LeVert would be an obvious trade candidate. Yet, the two Bucks likely to garner any meaningful interest are Kevin Porter Jr. and AJ Green. Porter had an excellent season in 2025-26, despite bouts with the injury bug. Green is one of the best perimeter shooters in the NBA and would fit snugly on any contender. The Bucks should dangle them with minimal draft capital.
If Milwaukee can get one of their remaining big-fish targets while keeping Burries and Jakucionis at a minimum, it would be a victory.
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