The Milwaukee Bucks still have to trim two players from their standard roster before the new season, but their rotation is already taking shape. From the starters who will log hefty minutes to the reserves who will give them breathers to the depth who will patiently await their opportunity, let's project the current state of Milwaukee's rotation.
Starters - Herro, Rollins, Jaquez, Kuzma, Turner
From a position standpoint, this is the lineup that makes the most sense. Herro is the tone-setter for this group as the top option. Rollins can provide complementary off-ball play and defense. Jaquez is due for a big year and could provide needed scoring. Kuzma is a legitimate power forward and isn't as bad as some say. Turner, though a possible trade candidate, will be the man in the middle right away.
Herro and Jaquez aren't known as stout defenders, but the trio of Rollins, Kuzma, and Turner could do their part to shield them. A bigger concern could be the fit between Jaquez and Kuzma, given that the two have always been poor perimeter threats. If they are both constantly trying to attack inside, they could clash too often. Outside of that, this group could be solid.
Bench - Porter, Burries, Green, Trent, Dieng, Ware
There is an argument for Porter to start over Rollins, but he feels better suited to come off the bench and lead this group by himself rather than sharing responsibility with Herro. This could be a chance to show his skills as a facilitator, given that he will be surrounded by an assortment of perimeter threats who are always willing to pay off a pass. Porter could be among the NBA's best bench pieces.
Green, Trent, and Dieng know their job is to shoot the ball and hold up defensively. If they can do that, they'll be just fine. Burries, a rookie, is an unknown, but given his two-way skill set, he could become a mainstay in the second unit quickly. Ware will likely be tasked with backing up Turner, providing strong shooting, rebounding, and versatility every night.
Depth - LeVert, Jakucionis, Sims, Ament, Jones, Ryan, Nance, Markovic
These players could be used situationally, but in the grand scheme of things, they won't be on the floor much unless there is a hole elsewhere in the lineup. For most of these players, there won't be any controversy there. LeVert is an aging veteran. Ament and Markovic are rookies who likely need time to grow. Ryan and Jones are on two-way deals. Nance might not be on the team.
The most controversial exclusions from the rotation are Jakucionis and Sims. Jakucionis came over in the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade and has potential. However, with the backcourt stacked, it will be hard for him to earn significant minutes. Sims could certainly work his way into the mix due to his nice rebounding and hustle, but it's hard to think he could leapfrog Turner or Ware. For now, he's depth.
Again, this won't be the official opening night roster, but if it was, this is a possible read on how the rotation under Taylor Jenkins might look.
Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis.
Add us as a preferred source on Google