The Milwaukee Bucks made significant moves ahead of the trade deadline, addressing some of their most pressing needs and retooling their roster for another championship run. But despite their efforts, one glaring hole remains: the lack of depth at small forward. Taurean Prince is the only legitimate option at the position, and that’s a problem. In a league where versatility and wing depth are more important than ever, the Bucks’ thin rotation at the three-spot could be their undoing.
Prince is a solid player, but his monthly slumps show the Bucks faithful exactly what Lakers fans have known about Prince for years. He’s a reliable 3-point shooter, a capable defender and a veteran who understands his role. But asking him to shoulder the entire small forward load is a tall order, especially in the playoffs.
Prince is averaging 7.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, and two assists this season while shooting 45.6 percent from three. Those are genuinely encouraging numbers for a role player, but that's just the thing: Taurean is a role player who should not be playing extensive starter's minutes, as recent history has shown. Those numbers, while efficient, are also not enough to fill the void left by the departure of Khris Middleton and the lack of a true starting-caliber small forward.
The Bucks’ reliance on Prince becomes even more concerning when you consider his limitations. At 6-foot-7, he’s undersized against some of the league’s elite wings, and his lack of elite athleticism makes it difficult for him to guard quicker players or create his own shot in isolation. According to Cleaning the Glass, the Milwaukee Bucks score -3.8 fewer points and give up +2.6 more points per 100 possessions in the minutes that Prince plays. He's in the 27th and 28th percentiles for offensive and defensive rating, respectively.
In a seven-game series against teams like the Boston Celtics, New York Knicks or Orlando Magic, the lack of backup options after Prince could very well be exposed as a weak link.
The Bucks have a hole at small forward, and it could derail title hopes
None of this is to say that Prince is a bad player. He's actually a legitimately productive one, all things considered. But the problem starts when he is the only legitimate option at small forward. This writer has argued earlier on that while Khris Middleton's overall decline has worsened the team's efficiency, he also gives them the option to roll out a "death lineup" of sorts akin to that of the Golden State Warriors of years past. You just don't have that anymore after the deadline.
The Bucks’ lack of depth at small forward isn’t just about Prince—it’s about the lack of viable alternatives. Behind him, the options are slim. Andre Jackson Jr., Gary Trent Jr., AJ Green and Pat Connaughton have seen minutes at the three, but none of them are true small forwards.
This lack of depth is a stark contrast to the teams the Bucks will likely face in the playoffs. The Celtics have Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. The Cleveland Cavaliers now have DeAndre Hunter to complement Isaac Okoro. The Bucks, on the other hand, are relying on Taurean Prince and a patchwork group of players who are out of position. It’s a mismatch waiting to happen.
The Bucks’ small forward problem doesn’t just affect the position itself—it has ripple effects across the entire roster. Without a reliable wing defender, the Bucks are forced to lean heavily on Giannis Antetokounmpo and Brook Lopez to anchor their defense. While both are elite defenders, asking them to cover for the lack of perimeter defense is unsustainable, especially in the playoffs.
Giannis, in particular, is already carrying a massive load on both ends of the floor. If he’s forced to spend more energy guarding elite wings, it could take a toll on his offensive production and overall effectiveness. The Bucks need to find a way to lighten his burden, and that starts with addressing the small forward position.
The Bucks made several moves at the trade deadline, including the acquisition of Kyle Kuzma and Jericho Sims. While these moves addressed some of their needs and generally made them a bigger and younger team, they didn’t solve the small forward problem. Kuzma is more of a power forward, and Sims is a center. Neither is a true wing who can guard the likes of Tatum or Brown.
The Bucks’ front office deserves credit for being aggressive, but their failure to address the small forward position could come back to haunt them. In a league where wing depth is often the difference between winning and losing, the Bucks are dangerously thin.
The Bucks have one major hole left in their roster, and it’s a big one. The lack of depth at small forward is a glaring weakness that could derail their championship hopes. Taurean Prince is a solid player, but he’s not enough to fill the void. If the Bucks want to make another deep playoff run, they need to find a way to address this issue—whether through the buyout market, internal development or creative lineup adjustments.
The clock is ticking, and the pressure is on. The Bucks have built a championship-caliber roster, but their small forward problem could be the Achilles’ heel that costs them everything. It’s time to find a solution—before it’s too late.