No one is high on the Milwaukee Bucks this season. It would be like finding treasure to come across an analyst who has them ranked anywhere higher than 30th in their current power rankings. With the team being completely disregarded, Taylor Jenkins should be the runaway winner of the Coach of the Year Award if the Bucks see any sort of unexpected success.
Jenkins is the perfect fit for this Bucks team
Are the Milwaukee Bucks poised to be a title contender this coming season? No. Even if they land an impact piece like Peyton Watson to put the finishing touches on the roster, Milwaukee won't be in the championship race this coming season. Yet, can they be better than the worst team in the NBA? Yes, that feels a lot more reasonable with the pieces they have in tow, and Jenkins is a big reason why.
The Milwaukee Bucks hired Jenkins partially due to his player development background. Knowing the time to trade Giannis Antetokounmpo might be upon them, the Bucks hired Jenkins to be the guiding voice for all of their youth, just like he was with the Memphis Grizzlies. Jenkins took a young Grizzlies team and made them a contender in the Western Conference for years.
If anyone can bring the best out of Milwaukee's youngsters, Jenkins feels like the perfect name for the job. While Milwaukee doesn't have a superstar, they do have an assortment of talent. Tyler Herro is an All-Star who should have a career year. Ryan Rollins is due for another leap. Brayden Burries is one of the best rookies based on Summer League. Myles Turner can still play.
Jenkins will be tasked with bringing the best out of all of them.
Play-In would be a massive success for Milwaukee
If the Milwaukee Bucks make the Play-In Tournament after all of the doubt they have faced since they traded Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jenkins should immediately vault to the top of the Coach of the Year race. Of course, there is no telling what else might go on across the NBA and who else might be in the race, but barring something insane, Jenkins would have a strong case if he achieved this feat.
While some teams try to rebuild after trading away a franchise player, the Milwaukee Bucks will not be. With next year's first-round pick owed to the New Orleans Pelicans, the Bucks have no incentive at all to lose games. This team will try to win as many games as possible, and having Jenkins gives them a puncher's chance of doing so.
The Bucks making one of the biggest coaching upgrades in the NBA this summer has flown under the radar. They will get their flowers if they even sniff the Play-In Tournament next season.
Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis.
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