Bucks' unsurprising Darvin Ham stance is making itself known

The Milwaukee Bucks have started putting together a list of candidates to be their next head coach, and Darvin Ham is on the list. Per NBA insider Jake Fischer (subscription required), Taylor Jenkins and Darvin Ham are currently two "certain" names in the running. This isn't too shocking, given Ham's ties to the franchise, but he's far from a surefire pick.

Ham has appeal but also one major concern as coach

Above all else, Ham is someone players love. Over the years, Bucks players have spoken incredibly highly of him at every turn. Bobby Portis went as far as to say that Ham leaving the team to coach the Los Angeles Lakers in 2022 hurt them more than people realized following Milwaukee's playoff loss to the eighth-seeded Miami Heat.

Ham is a motivator. He's the type of coach who can fire up his guys without telling them to Google him or to check out his resume. For a Milwaukee Bucks team that typically felt disconnected from Adrian Griffin and Doc Rivers, the next head man needs that guiding voice. It's in Ham's nature to be that type of figure, especially when leading a group of players he has familiarity with.

The biggest downside with Ham is that he may feel repetitive, given that he's been on the staff for two of Milwaukee's last three fired coaches. As someone who learned under Mike Budenholzer and Doc Rivers, Ham may feel repetitive in some regards. The Milwaukee Bucks may want to wipe the slate entirely and start fresh with someone disconnected from the organization entirely.

Bucks will cast a wide net to find their next coach

Ham is an early name in the running. That doesn't mean he's getting hired. The playoffs just started, so the Milwaukee Bucks are nowhere near done finding their next coach. More options could be on the market in the coming weeks, depending on how their team's fare in the postseason. The Bucks have no reason to rush this.

Jenkins, the only other name directly linked to the Milwaukee Bucks at the time of this writing, is an interesting option, but he shares Ham's fatal flaw. The former Memphis Grizzlies head coach was an assistant in Milwaukee under Mike Budenholzer in 2018-19 and also spent time with Budenholzer in Atlanta before he took the Bucks job.

Perhaps the Bucks took Bobby Portis' comments about finding a "Mike Budenholzer type of coach" too seriously.

Before they hire their next head coach, the Milwaukee Bucks need to figure out what will happen with star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis.

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