One of the Bucks' most underrated acquisitions in the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade was Jaime Jaquez Jr., but he isn't guaranteed to give Milwaukee great return value until he's signed to a long-term deal. Although Jaquez figures to play a bigger role with the Bucks, he's only under contract for one more season before hitting free agency - unless he and the Bucks can agree to a contract extension. In a recent interview with the Miami Herald's Anthony Chiang (subscription required), Jaquez finally opened up about his contract situation:
"We’ll see when that time comes. I’m not really too worried about that right now."
Jaquez seemed generally unworried about his next contract, preferring to focus on his adaptation to the Bucks roster instead. It's a reasonable stance for the 25-year-old, who's already coming off his best career season and should get even more opportunity next season. Jaquez has also already seen the Bucks give out some player-friendly deals, so he might not be too concerned about his chances of getting a good offer next year if he plays well.
Jaquez doesn't seem close to an extension right now
In Miami, Jaquez had mentioned the possibility of an extension with the Heat and seemed excited to sign a second deal guaranteeing him long-term money. However, he's been quiet on that front since arriving in Milwaukee. Surely the uncertainty of his situation with the Bucks has played a role, but Jaquez must also realize the team has less reason to invest in him now.
The Heat originally selected him with the 18th pick of the 2023 Draft and saw him exceed expectations right away. He finished fourth in Rookie of the Year voting in his first season and second in Sixth Man of the Year voting last season. Naturally, this led to a lot of attachment for him from Miami's front office - a phenomenon the Bucks may see with their own promising draft picks next season.
But Jaquez and the Bucks don't have any such attachment yet. To Milwaukee, Jaquez was simply another piece to recoup proper value from trading away their franchise GOAT in Giannis. But the Bucks could quickly change their tune if Jaquez plays on par with his performance last season, when he averaged 15 points, five rebounds, and five assists per game.
The Bucks will have a leg up on securing Jaquez
Either way, the Bucks are in a good position to keep Jaquez around if they appreciate his services. Even if they don't sign an extension with him before the October deadline, they will still have his restricted free agency rights next summer. That will allow the Bucks to match any offer that another team extends to Jaquez.
If the Bucks feel that Jaquez is worth a bigger deal, they can also lock him down before any other teams make offers. And if they feel that another team is overvaluing him, they can just let him go.
Add us as a preferred source on Google