The Milwaukee Bucks were among the teams linked to Peyton Watson this summer, but their interest may have been overstated. Per The Denver Post's Bennett Durando (subscription required), while the Bucks did have preliminary talks with the Nuggets about a deal, Milwaukee never made an actual offer for the forward, who went to Cleveland. The Bucks seemingly feel good about their forwards then.
Bucks rolling with in-house options at forward
Following the blockbuster Giannis Antetokounmpo trade, Milwaukee's clearest weakness was a lack of options at forward.
Jaime Jaquez Jr. is a tremendous player, but the big question is whether he is a starting-caliber option or a second-unit staple. Kyle Kuzma is a stopgap option. Ousmane Dieng has potential but may need more time before he's truly ready. Nate Ament and Bogoljub Markovic are two baby-faced rookies and will certainly need time to grow. Pete Nance might not even make the roster.
The point is that if the Milwaukee Bucks wanted to make a splash before the season began, it would have made sense to go all-in for a forward. Watson could have been a long-term option for the team, especially with this new youth movement underway. Yet, no one could fault the Bucks for not wanting to pay a steep asking price, including an unprotected first-rounder, for the forward.
Now, it's time to see if their in-house options can justify that decision, especially Jaquez, who should see the most prominent opportunity of his career.
Bucks should keep an eye on external forwards
While they held off on reeling in a big fish this summer, the Milwaukee Bucks would be wise to watch the trade market as the season goes on. Holding assets, both their own and what they got from the Miami Heat in the Giannis deal, close to the chest is smart, but if the right opportunity comes along, making a play for a big-name forward could undeniably be worth exploring.
Without a pick in next year's draft, the Milwaukee Bucks have every reason to win games this year. The current market is dry, but things always change once the season begins and teams start to see who really fits where. If the team can lock down a starting forward for the foreseeable future, it will check off a massive box currently left vacant.
For now, all eyes are on Jaquez, Kuzma, Dieng, Ament, Markovic, and Nance.
Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis.
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