The Milwaukee Bucks brought accruing rumors to fruition on Thursday by signing Taylor Jenkins to be their next head coach. According to ESPN's Shams Charania, the two sides are finalizing contract terms.
Jenkins, the consensus top head-coaching candidate on the market, returns to Milwaukee following a one-year stint as an assistant in 2018-19 and six years in Memphis from 2019-20 to 2024-25. The suddenness of the signing, even after weeks of rumors and reports, is the surprising part. In terms of coaching fit, Jenkins is anything but an outlandish match for the Bucks.
Jenkins has the resume to stabilize Bucks' young, uncertain rosterÂ
He already had a foot in the door given his ties with the franchise. A year's experience under Mike Budenholzer is a plus on his resume. Opposed to Doc Rivers' stubborn plodding, Jenkins' competitive fire should provide a much-needed jolt.Â
In Memphis, he used that fiery energy to steer a young team claw back into the playoff picture on the heels of a rebuild. His success in developing the Grizzlies' youthful talent no doubt appealed to Bucks decision makers as Milwaukee's own roster trends in that direction.
Moreover, with the Bulls job unexpectedly available after Billy Donovan's exit, Milwaukee was wise to snap up Jenkins before someone else did. Darvin Ham, the other name linked to the Bucks in their search, was a "meh" choice at best and a repeat disaster at worst.
There are, of course, differences in the task Jenkins will face with the Bucks and the circumstances he inherited in Memphis. There is, for one thing, a high degree of uncertainty. The entire mindset entering next season hinges on Giannis Antetokounmpo's fate this summer.Â
If Giannis stays, the Bucks will do their best to compete. If he leaves, they will likely embark on a rebuild. Jenkins' experience, however, should grant him the wherewithal to manage either scenario.Â
Bucks can trust Jenkins to make the most of available talent
Rescuing the Bucks from mediocrity, just like he did for the Grizzlies, will be Jenkins' job if Giannis sticks around. That's the deal with Antetokounmpo on the roster: as long as he's here, winning will be the goal.Â
Jenkins has proven himself up to the task. He had Memphis back in the playoffs by Year 2, ending a three-year drought. By Year 3, the Grizzlies went 56-26 to finish second in the Western Conference. He posted an overall regular-season record of 250-214.
If the Greek Freak moves on, Jenkins will be left to maximize a roster whose only sure thing, right now, is point guard Ryan Rollins. Throw in AJ Green and, maybe, Pete Nance.
Elsewhere on the roster, the fates of Ousmane Dieng (restricted free agent), Kevin Porter Jr. (player option), Jericho Sims (player option), and breakout candidate Cormac Ryan (two-way contract) will be decided this offseason. The Bucks should be motivated to lock up all four on multi-year deals, but that remains to be seen.
Among the veterans, Myles Turner's future is a question mark, as is Bobby Portis'. Especially with Giannis gone, either may be strong trade candidates. Kyle Kuzma likely fits that bill in any case.
The Bucks don't even know if they can count on Taurean Prince returning. He may decline his option after a strong finish to the year.
The young core Jenkins will have to work with remains very much up in the air. He could, at least, have a first-round rookie joining the team, if the Bucks hold onto the pick (projected No. 10 overall). The one thing they are banking on is his ability to make the sum exceed the parts, something Rivers never did.
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