Kel’el Ware can make Bucks' struggle to move Myles Turner a blessing in disguise

The Milwaukee Bucks are reportedly struggling to find buyers for big man Myles Turner. Turner signed with the Bucks to support Giannis Antetokounmpo but is now a part of a generally young team with more realistic long-term ambitions than short-term goals of contending. Thankfully, Kel’el Ware can save Turner and the Bucks from disappointment.

With Turner and Ware on the court, the Bucks may actually be able to roll out two-big lineups that meet modern standards and establish a pivotal edge inside.

Turner has made a career out of blocking shots and shooting threes as well as just about any big man in the NBA. The prototypical 3-and-D center, Turner’s two-way value helped the Indiana Pacers make a trip to the NBA Finals in 2025 and remains helpful to the current Bucks squad.

Unfortunately, Ben Golliver of ESPN noted in late July that the Bucks have thus far struggled to find a trade suitor for Turner.

"Though Antetokounmpo's departure was preceded by years of trade rumors, the Bucks didn't slide smoothly into a rebuilding effort. The good news: They were able to send Bobby Portis' contract to the Heat. The bad news: They haven't yet found a taker for Myles Turner, who was signed to a four-year, $107 million contract last summer in a failed attempt to appease Antetokounmpo."

Though that's caused some degree of panic due to Turner not necessarily fitting a younger team's timeline at 30 years of age with a massive salary, he and Ware could potentially thrive as a duo.

Kel’el Ware and Myles Turner can space the floor, control the interior

Despite the fact that Turner is a veteran and Ware is an up-and-comer, this duo has the potential to balance out one another's strengths and weaknesses. For instance: While Turner is a great shot blocker, he struggles on the glass. Ware, meanwhile, has showcased the potential to rank among the best rebounders in the NBA.

Together, this potentially dynamic duo could help the Bucks play five out without compromising the size advantage they'd be able to create against many teams along the interior.

Turner admittedly had a down year in 2025-26, but with Giannis Antetokounmpo missing 46 games, his struggles must be taken with a grain of salt. He did, after all, still average 1.6 blocks in just 26.9 minutes per game while shooting 38.3 percent from beyond the arc.

Moreover, Turner's down year still saw him rank in the 94th percentile in rim protection and rim disruption, and the 93rd percentile in rim deterrence and screener rim defense, per Basketball Index.

Two 6'11"+ sharpshooting bigs would give the Bucks quite a look

Each of those figures reveals how he can help Ware realize his own potential. Ware is already on his way to doing so after averaging 11.1 points, 9.0 rebounds, 2.8 offensive rebounds, 1.1 blocks, 0.8 steals, and1.2 three-point field goals made in just 22.1 minutes per contest.

Those numbers translate to arguably star-caliber figures of 18.0 points, 14.7 rebounds, 4.6 offensive boards, 1.8 blocks, 1.2 steals, and 1.9 three-point field goals made per 36 minutes—on .530/.395/.740 shooting.

With Turner and Ware both ranking among the best three-point shooting big men in the NBA, the Bucks can run an offense with all five players on the court operating along the perimeter. That would conceivably create spacious driving lanes for the likes of Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., and Ryan Rollins, thus optimizing their impact given their preferred downhill style of play.

Compounded by head coach Taylor Jenkins' history of experimental lineups that featured three-point shooting big man Jaren Jackson Jr., there's ample reason for optimism that the Bucks can make this unorthodox system work.

Kel'el Ware and Myles Turner cancel out each other's weaknesses

The key reason for intrigue is that taking this approach would give Milwaukee quite an advantage with the 6'11" Turner and 7'0" Ware on defense. Turner is excellent in drop coverage against the pick and roll, which should help offset Ware's inconsistency in that regard.

Along those same lines, Ware is an elite rebounder on both ends of the floor, which should take pressure off of Turner and his lackluster production on the glass.

There would clearly be question marks, as one of Turner or Ware would need to defend power forwards out in space. Even if this becomes a situational lineup tactic, however, the efficacy of it could prove pivotal to the Bucks building a balanced rotation that can compete for a Play-In berth as soon as the 2026-27 season.

If the Bucks can build the right perimeter to complement the Turner and Ware duo, their path to overachieving and erasing the concerns over their inability to trade the veteran could be erased.

If nothing else, Milwaukee could at least repair Turner's trade value.

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