While the rest of the NBA wondered if Steve Kerr would potentially leave the Golden State Warriors, the Milwaukee Bucks went out and got their guy, Taylor Jenkins. Despite the accolades Kerr has on his lofty resume, Milwaukee had eyes on just one person from the jump, and that was Taylor Jenkins. Well, with Kerr re-signing in Golden State, arguably the two best coaches are off the market.
Bucks got Jenkins before others could even try
Sure, it always felt unlikely that Kerr would leave the Warriors to coach elsewhere, but it was not off the table entirely. It was a situation the entire league was monitoring. The Milwaukee Bucks likely at least internally pondered the idea of bringing in Kerr, but they couldn't wait. They wanted Jenkins on the payroll before anyone else could even talk to him, and that's what they got.
Now, the remaining teams will be forced to look elsewhere, and there are no surefire hires. The New Orleans Pelicans, Chicago Bulls, Orlando Magic, and Portland Trail Blazers are all looking and would have loved to talk to Jenkins, in all likelihood. In the current coaching cycle, no one really jumps off the page as much as Jenkins did. There are likely hidden gems, but no one is ahead of the pack.
Bucks assistants Darvin Ham and Rajon Rondo are making noise as options. Tom Thibodeau and Billy Donovan are quality veteran names who could be safe hires. Well-respected assistants like Jared Dudley and Sean Sweeney could be worthwhile first-time hires. Yet, none of them would be as strong as hiring Jenkins, and the Bucks made a statement with how quickly they acted.
Bucks made it clear how much they like Jenkins
Jenkins didn't quickly accept Milwaukee's offer out of the kindness of his heart. Per The Athletic's Sam Amick (subscription required), Jenkins will make "north of $10 million annually" in Milwaukee. Furthermore, ESPN's Shams Charania reports that Jenkins inked a six-year contract with the Bucks. He's in the upper echelon of coaches, at least in terms of money.
Some might call that an overpay, but it absolutely made sense to lock up Jenkins. With plenty of uncertainty regarding Giannis Antetokounmpo's future, the Milwaukee Bucks needed someone who could navigate them with or without the Greek Freak. Most of the aforementioned candidates are not that, while Jenkins is exactly that.
His focus on player development while also maintaining a contending culture is a crucial part of what made Jenkins so successful in Memphis. The hope is that he can do the same in Milwaukee. As other teams scramble for their next coach, the Bucks already have a head start.
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