Peyton Watson is still one of the most sought-after players on the market this offseason, with his sweepstakes continuing to roll. The Milwaukee Bucks have been named one of the frontrunners, but if they don't land the forward, it will accelerate their potential backup plan of Nate Ament or Bogoljub Markovic being key pieces in the rotation.
We may see more of Ament and Markovic sooner than expected
It was a quiet Summer League for 13th-overall pick Ament before he exploded for a brilliant 23-point game against the Hornets that reinforced why the Bucks drafted him. Selecting him was always going to be viewed as a project move. He may not play a massive role right away, but as he develops his game and bulks up, he can become a real cornerstone for the Milwaukee Bucks moving forward.
Markovic is in a similar position. He was drafted in the second round of the 2025 draft, stashed for a year, and is now in Wisconsin and finally ready to debut for the Bucks. He is a project player a few years away from being an NBA regular, needing to bulk up and gain experience. His Summer League was solid, averaging 10 points over six games, showing flashes of what he can do on offense.
The Bucks are clearly still targeting forward help, with their key targets being Watson and Jonathan Kuminga. Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Kyle Kuzma look set to start at the three and four spots, though the latter is a firm trade candidate to trim the roster and reach the 15 standard contracts maximum.
Not bringing in Watson, who would warrant around 30 minutes per game, does open the door earlier to give game time to Ament and Markovic in the forward slots.
Bucks are still chasing Watson and others
Some big decisions still need to be made regarding the Bucks' roster, with them still sitting on 17 standard contracts. They are still chasing Watson, and their trade exception from the Giannis deal may help them convince Denver to accept a sign-and-trade, with the Bucks rumored to be willing to take on Zeke Nnaji's contract.
Bennedict Mathurin is another player very much on the radar. Again, it would be a sign-and-trade deal, and the Bucks have made it clear they aren't willing to give up picks in these moves as of yet. Bringing in the Clippers guard would add to their question marks surrounding the backcourt, with Ryan Rollins and Tyler Herro looking like the clear projected starters.
It has largely been a positive offseason for the Bucks so far, despite the number of changes. Peyton Watson is still a target for the team, but if they don't land him, we may get to see more of Nate Ament and Bogoljub Markovic than initially expected.
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