After missing out on Peyton Watson, the Milwaukee Bucks will continue to test the waters on forward Jonathan Kuminga. The question, to many, is whether they should, though. While Kuminga is a high-upside player, there's a reason he's still unsigned. Bleacher Report's Grant Hughes issued his warning to any interested teams in a recent article.
"After failing to meet expectations in both Golden State and Atlanta, it's starting to seem that Kuminga's struggles are more about his style of play than any system suppressing his talent."
Kuminga isn't a perfect prospect for the Bucks
One of the reasons Milwaukee has been mentioned as a suitable Kuminga taker for so long is due to their timeline reset. With contending out the window for the time being, they can afford to be patient and take on high-risk projects as they look to find their stride once again. For suitors looking to win in the present, like the Los Angeles Lakers, that risk is a much bigger gamble.
Even if true, that does not mean the Milwaukee Bucks should just throw caution to the wind. Landing the forward would require a notable financial commitment, given that it would come through a sign-and-trade. The Bucks, who already have Damian Lillard's deal on the books for the next several years, cannot afford to be careless with their money.
If they pay him, they have to be confident they can bring the best out of him in ways that the Warriors and Hawks both failed to do. As Hughes mentioned, though, at this point, Kuminga's play style might be more of an issue and something a coach cannot magically fix overnight.
Risk or not, Bucks could use a forward
It's not a coincidence that Watson and Kuminga have been linked to the Milwaukee Bucks for most of the summer. Since trading Giannis Antetokounmpo, the team has needed more forward depth to add to the rotation alongside Ousmane Dieng, Kyle Kuzma, Nate Ament, and Jaime Jaquez Jr. Bringing in Watson or Kuminga would beef up the depth for sure.
Watson was the top target in the eyes of many, given that he was more polished, but no one could fault the Bucks for not wanting to give up a first-rounder to get him. It's reasonable to think that they could get Kuminga at a reduced rate in a sign-and-trade, which could lessen the risk, even if they still have to pay him.
It all depends on how confident the Milwaukee Bucks are that Taylor Jenkins could bring the best out of the forward. Given how long their interest has lingered, it feels safe to say that they are confident. Alongside Bennedict Mathurin, another rumored Bucks target, Kuminga feels like one of the final few dominoes that could play a part in Milwaukee's incredibly eventful summer.
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