LeBron James' monumental decision to join the 76ers in free agency sent ripple waves throughout the Eastern Conference, and even the Bucks could find themselves affected. With LeBron officially ending the sweepstakes for his services, the Cavaliers - a top suitor for his talents - will be freed up to make other moves, including a trade or signing for Jonathan Kuminga.
The Bucks have also been in hot pursuit of Kuminga this offseason, but now stand to possibly lose him for an open wing spot in Cleveland. Kuminga has been a dream target for Milwaukee for years, but the Cavaliers are reportedly the leading contender to land him currently. With their top free agent target taken off the board, the Cavs should now turn their full attention to adding Kuminga instead.
The Bucks could end up as a loser of LeBron's decision
Kuminga wouldn't have been a magical franchise savior for the Bucks, but he could have been a nice piece to add some more talent and serve as a mentor for Milwaukee's other promising wing prospects. He's heading into his sixth NBA season and has already played a bunch of different roles with two different teams. Kuminga's experience could be valuable on a rebuilding team, which should also give him more freedom to display his full talents.
But if Kuminga wants to be part of a contending team sooner, the Cavaliers are the obvious choice. They are coming off their first Conference Finals apperance since 2018, when LeBron was still on the roster at the peak of his powers. Cleveland might not employ a single player as great as King James in his prime anymore, but they are still a consistent playoff contender with title aspirations.
In Cleveland, Kuminga will have an opportunity to prove himself in a winning environment and drum up more interest in his play as a supporting piece. The Cavaliers also have a weak spot in their starting lineup at small forward, which Kuminga can fill adequately. His rim pressure and athleticism can also add a welcome missing element to the Cavaliers that should give them more options in the playoffs.
Milwaukee has other options to pursue besides Kuminga
Kuminga isn't the only remaining free agent who could be worth a swing for a rebuilding Bucks team. Peyton Watson has been reported as another potential target, although he has the extra baggage of being a restricted free agent. The Nuggets will be able to match any offer the Bucks extend to him, so Milwaukee will likely need to trade something to entice Denver.
Another option for a young high-ceiling wing is Bennedict Mathurin, who was just part of a Finals run in 2024. The Pacers dealt Mathurin to the Clippers since then, but he still has potential as a downhill driver and versatile scorer. While he's not likely to become a winning player immediately, the Bucks would benefit from adding his overall talent to their relatively middling roster.
Hopefully the offseason isn't quite over for the Bucks yet, even if they miss out on Kuminga. There are still plenty of moves they can make to progress towards a successful rebuild, even if it means taking some risks on young players across the league.
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