Kyle Kuzma's first few months with the Milwaukee Bucks didn't go according to plan, and part of it may have been because he was a starter. He simply didn't fit in some of those lineups, considering that he was playing small forward when he's a natural power forward. New comments from general manager Jon Horst make it sound like that might change next season.
"He’s very, very good (at power forward)," Horst said in an interview with The Athletic's Eric Nehm (subscription required). "And so I think getting him more minutes at the four … is going to be helpful."
A role change could ignite the Kuzma Milwaukee needs
Kyle Kuzma isn't challenging Giannis Antetokounmpo for the starting power forward slot. If he's at the second forward spot, it means he's either coming off the bench or playing next to Giannis, who would be the center. The latter could happen here and there, but with the Bucks investing so much in Myles Turner this year, it feels more likely that the former is the route Milwaukee goes.
The fit with Kuzma as a starter is awkward. It's hard to play next to Antetokounmpo, who thrives when given shooters around him, when you're a career 33.3 percent perimeter shooter. It's never been what he likes to do on the court, putting him in odd spots that led to plenty of indecisive (frustrating) plays for the Milwaukee Bucks last season.
Having Kuzma be Antetokounmpo's backup rather than his running mate could be the key. That would allow him to play more freely, not having to worry about clogging the lane for Giannis and not putting him in a position to just be a spot-up shooter. It's exactly what the Los Angeles Lakers did with the forward back in 2019-20 to maximize the fit with LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
They won a title that season.
Horst's comments shouldn't be taken as law. Even if it feels like a hint, there's no telling where Kuzma will be playing this season. Training camp hasn't even started. However, the architect behind this new roster clearly thinks it makes more sense to give Kuzma minutes at his natural position. He can help this team, largely on the defensive end, but his best action might be when he's not with Giannis.
This franchise clearly believes in Kuzma despite his horrific playoff showing. They should, as he could be the ultimate X-factor for this team's contention hopes. Doc Rivers faces plenty of pressure to get the best out of his forward.
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