According to ESPN, the Milwaukee Bucks should be targeting guards in the 2026 NBA Draft. Right, the position that is clearly not pulling its weight on a nightly basis, where the future roster has sizable holes. That take looked dubious then, and it's only fitting that the starting backcourt poured in 53 points versus Miami on Tuesday.
"How have the Bucks' draft plans changed?" asks daft analyst Jeremy Woo in light of their recent surge.
"The Bucks will get the worst of their own pick and New Orleans', which means for Milwaukee to select in the top four, both of those selections have to jump. That scenario is wishful thinking, but Milwaukee still has an important opportunity to add to the roster with this selection. There is a glaring need in the backcourt, no matter what happens with Antetokounmpo."
Let's be clear, Woo is an expert in his field. This stance, however, seems completely out of touch with organizational needs.
The backcourt is the least of Milwaukee's worries
Of course, it's not just the game against the Heat, but let's start there. Kevin Porter Jr. tied a season-high and led all scorers with 32 points on an efficient 11-for-20 from the field. Add seven assists, seven rebounds, two steals, and one turnover. Porter punctuated his masterpiece by giving the Bucks the lead on a four-point play late in the final quarter.
What did Ryan Rollins do? Oh, not much: 21 points on 9-for-16 from the field, five assists, and a pair of steals. He and a Porter both recorded a block. They both played 37 minutes as the clear-cut leaders of the offense.
It's not just about last night. Hardly. Porter ranks second on the team with 18.2 points per game. Rollins is third at 17.2. In assists? Porter is first, Rollins third. They are one-two in steals. Rollins trails only AJ Green in made threes per contest (2.5), and is shooting 42 percent beyond the arc. He trails only Giannis Antetokounmpo in made field goals (6.6). Porter is third (6.5).
Their contributions have been even more pronounced in February. This month, Porter is averaging 22.1 points on 52.3 percent shooting and has an assist-to-turnover ratio of 3.7. Rollins? 22.3 points and five dimes on 52.7 from distance.
The backcourt isn't just producing. It's leading the team in the Greek Freak's absence.
And here's the thing: Rollins is undeniably a core piece of the future. He's playing on a three-year, $12 million contract the Bucks should be thrilled to extend before he declines his 2027-28 player option. They don't need to draft a replacement.
What about Porter? With the way he has played this season, he will surely opt out of his own player option for next season. That doesn't mean the Bucks won't be keen to re-sign him. Sure, in the end, it will come down to money, but it's worth remembering that Milwaukee is the place that revitalized his career. He's already connected to the organization. The Bucks were the team willing to bring him back in 2025-26 at more than twice his previous salary.
His off-court history could once again cap his free-agency market in their favor this offseason. A reunion just makes sense; certainly, it's not something to rule out already. Plus, with Cam Thomas in the fold, another outcast guard who could restore his value in Milwaukee, the Bucks could have a decent shot at retaining at least one of him or Porter.
Is Thomas a starter? No, probably he's more of a sixth man. The Bucks have no reason to burn a first-round pick on the backcourt, anyway. Say Porter walks and Thomas stays, probably the less preferable swap. Well, AJ Green is really a shooting guard, so start him there and play Rollins at the point. Bring Thomas off the bench and sign a backup point guard in free agency.
That ties directly into the position the front office should be targeting this draft, which is small forward. Green shouldn't have to play the three; at 6-foot-4, he just isn't big enough. If not Green, the Bucks have gone with Kyle Kuzma, more of a hybrid three-four and a trade candidate this summer, and Ousmane Dieng. They haven't had a true small forward all season. It's been, well, a "glaring need."
It's not that the franchise is all set for the future at the guard position, or that the Bucks have a reservoir of in-house prospects. It's about priorities and urgent needs. Regardless of whether you think Milwaukee is lottery-bound this year, spending a first-rounder on a guard over a quality small forward would border on malpractice.