theathleticuk
The NBA offseason has traditionally offered front offices a quiet August respite before the September minicamps and pickup games that precede training camp. Yet, the evolving financial landscape of roster construction and extended negotiations for restricted free agents have kept general managers tethered to their phones, monitoring contract situations across the league.
Bucks GM Jon Horst currently holds 17 players on guaranteed deals for a 15-man roster, creating an immediate logjam. The roster features a deep backcourt with Tyler Herro, AJ Green, Gary Trent Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis, and Caris LeVert, alongside forwards like Kyle Kuzma and Jaime Jaquez Jr., and center Myles Turner. With preseason action roughly two months away, three pressing questions dominate the Bucks' offseason agenda.
Peyton Watson's Market Value
Following the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade, Horst emphasized a dual approach of aggressiveness and diligence. "I think being super aggressive and diligent at the same time in exploring opportunities and learning about the team," Horst told reporters last month. "This is a big transition... not a call to just sit and do nothing, but definitely a call to be patient and diligent and make sure that the things that we do are the right things at the right time."
The restricted free agency of Denver Nuggets forward Peyton Watson illustrates this philosophy. The Athletic has reported that Milwaukee remains interested in a sign-and-trade for Watson, with the Atlanta Hawks, Cleveland Cavaliers, and LA Clippers also showing interest. However, league sources indicate the Bucks are reluctant to part with a first-round pick, given their need to rebuild assets post-Antetokounmpo. Without a pick, Denver would require meaningful player compensation, potentially including rotation pieces like Jaquez, who made $5.9 million last season and is entering the final year of his rookie deal. The mechanics of such a trade are complicated by Milwaukee's $25.5 million trade exception and hard-cap constraints at the first apron. The Nuggets have until the season's start to decide, and if no deal emerges, Watson could accept his qualifying offer and become an unrestricted free agent next summer.
Roster Imbalance
Horst must trim two players by opening night. One likely cut is Pete Nance, whose contract is non-guaranteed. Without Nance, the Bucks would have 16 players earning $165.8 million, plus $22 million in dead money from waive-and-stretches of Damian Lillard and Vasilije Micic, leaving them $13 million below the luxury-tax line. Ideally, Milwaukee would trade a player for a pick or a two-for-one deal, but cutting a player for nothing remains a possibility.
The roster's surplus is most glaring at shooting guard, where Herro, Green, Trent, Jakucionis, and rookie Brayden Burries compete for minutes. Last season, Doc Rivers paired Ryan Rollins and Kevin Porter Jr. to maximize their time, but that becomes harder with Herro and Green expecting increased roles. With 96 minutes available across the two guard spots, four players cannot all average 25 minutes per game. The addition of Burries, the 10th pick in the 2026 draft, and Jakucionis, plus Trent's four-year, $64 million contract, exacerbates the logjam.
Philosophical Direction
The roster imbalance underscores a larger strategic question for the Bucks. Horst aims to build a sustainable winner, but the mix of veterans and young players requires a clear plan. Herro, who has averaged 20 points per game over the last five seasons, is extension-eligible. He could relieve pressure on younger playmakers, but his long-term value to the franchise remains uncertain. If the Bucks decide to trade him mid-season, they must determine how many developmental reps to give other players beforehand.
Similar questions apply to veterans like Kuzma, Porter, Turner, and Trent. The organization must craft a cohesive strategy that accommodates different directions for different players throughout the season. Head coach Taylor Jenkins will need to balance playing time while Horst navigates potential trades, all with an eye toward the future.
Originally reported by theathleticuk.