r/MkeBucks • u/Valsorim3212 • 5d ago
Biggest X-Factor(s) for this season?
Who do you think are the biggest X-Factor(s) for this season?
There are so many different perspectives for this season and this roster, like who should even be on the team next season versus being traded, who should have the highest usage, and what style of play we're hoping to see, so I think this could make for an interesting discussion.
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u/SixGunChimp Thanasis Antetokounmpo 5d ago
Honestly, I think Taylor Jenkins’ ability to develop young talent is the biggest X-factor for the Bucks this season. Milwaukee went from barely playing its young guys last year to suddenly having a roster full of players who need development... Ware, Jaquez, Burries, Ament, Jakučionis, etc.
Jenkins has already talked about seeing specific next steps for those guys, and that’s exactly what Milwaukee needs right now. If he can turn a few of these young players into legitimate NBA contributors, it changes the entire trajectory of this team. The wins are obviously important, but figuring out who can actually be part of the next good Bucks team is the real story this season.
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u/Valsorim3212 5d ago
My pick is someone who's impact I think has been a little underrated in discussions around the trade and new look Bucks, and that's Jaime Jaquez Jr.
I think the way his season goes has the potential to raise or lower our ceiling in a very significant manner, maybe more than anyone else due to him playing such a critical and thin position for us.
He has such a smooth game and I think he could be one of our best players this season, and will be a fan favorite really quickly. Whether or not we keep him and he helps lead us to the playoffs this season, or if we take the route of trading him for assets, he is a big X Factor to me.
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u/Next-Analyst9867 5d ago
Herro. If he plays really well, I think they'll get a good haul for him at the deadline
Rollins. If he takes another step, then he's going to be due for a big payday and be the PG for the now and the future.
Or Burries. If he comes out and gets minutes and averages around 18 to 20ppg, he's immediately the fan favorite and face ov the franchise.
Lastly, Jenkins. If he can coach this team to be "overachievers" and develops the younger guys, it will be huge for their future outlook
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u/zs15 Retro Bango 5d ago
Most specifically, whether Ware can play the 4 alongside Myles for some lineups.
We have so much positional flexibility everywhere but PF, with only Kuz a natural one. Combining Ware’s rebounding and athleticism with Myle’s defensive organization can be a real secret sauce lineup for us, even if it’s not the “main” lineup.
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u/Valsorim3212 5d ago
Ya I don't see any reason we can't play them together in spurts against teams like the Cavs, Rockets, Heat, Hornets, etc., who have traditional power forwards rather than modern swingmen 4's
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u/ThisWasMe7 4d ago
I see them only being on the floor together for 8-16 minutes per game, on average.
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u/Valsorim3212 4d ago
I personally feel like there won't be many mins. I think people sleep on guys like Sims, Nance, Bogi, Dieng, and Ament as options at the 4. I'm also not convinced that Ware can defend the perimeter, especially alongside Turner who has very limited switchability.
But I think it's a fine option so whatever Jenkins goes with im looking forward to watching🤷
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u/Happy_Yam_1196 5d ago
Depends on the context in which you view the question:
If you're talking about racking up wins for this year, then imo the xfactor is Myles Turner. Can he rebound better, can he play more of a traditional big man role with more success than he did last year?
Something to watch also with this is the Rollins-Herro dynamic, do they play well with each other, who is the primary ball handler, how is their backcourt defense together?
If you're talking about the future, for me it is Nate Ament and Taylor Jenkins. I am saying this because I am pretty confident that Burries will be at minimum a useful role player in this league, with potential for more. Ament could be anywhere from out of the league in 2 years to a Jaden McDaniels/KD morphling. He has so much potential with his frame and ball handling and fluidity, its just a matter of is he physical enough and can he be more efficient.
Jenkins is obvious too, but in the rebuild we need to build a culture, and he is responsible for that. Without picks for several seasons, the bucks need a guy who can internally improve talented players, Jenkins has done that before, and has the chance to do it again.
There are honestly so many other players you can pick for this too:
Herro-how does he perform as a 1A option? Ware-can he find consistency in a new team?
Burries-Is he more than a high level role player? Rollins-Can he take another jump into a truly elite status?
ect ect ect but thats what makes the Bucks so exciting to follow this year.
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u/badnewsCATS Ray Allen 5d ago
I'd pick 2 of the guys they traded for in Ware and Jaquez. Ware and Ament will shoulder most of the "traded Giannis for" load. If Jenkins can be the coach to finally reign Ware in, then we're looking at a perennial All-Star and All-Defense player.
Jaquez has kind of danced around being an above average player and the wing spot is the weakest on the team. If he can play well this year as a starter, I'd expect them to roll out his extension along with Rollins' and ship Herro off at the deadline.
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u/Boxseats19 5d ago
I think they can build a culture of defending and sharing the ball. That alone would make them close to a play-in team.
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u/ShoulderEmotional995 5d ago
Trent/Kuzma minutes (less = better)
KPJ 3pt volume and on-ball%
Rollins FTr
Turner post-up volume + 2P%
Herro 3pt volume
Burries A/TO (was elite in SL, priors aren’t great)
Ament rim fg%
Jaime stop%
Kasp Turnovers
Ware post-up volume
Sims scoring TOV% / stop%
Dieng 3pt volume / 3p%
Markovic ft% / 3Par
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u/ThisWasMe7 4d ago
Health?
But what do you mean by x-factor?
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u/Valsorim3212 4d ago
I'm going by how it's generally defined
X factor noun : a circumstance, quality, or person that has a strong but unpredictable influence
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u/ThisWasMe7 4d ago
I'll stick with health then. Particularly for players that the team might be looking to move.
It's always health.
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u/Valsorim3212 4d ago
Health is always a good one. I'm hesitant to even put it in writing but I had a nightmare thought recently that Burries would get a serious injury this season (just bc we've had bad luck lately and that would be the unluckiest possible thing that could happen lol). Still feels too good to be true that we snagged one of the most talented players on the draft at 10
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u/ThisWasMe7 4d ago
Herro, Kuzma, or Turner, or anyone else that would be good to be moved, would even be more devastating. And it wouldn't even need to be a particularly debilitating injury, just one that keeps them off the court..
Even torn ligaments have good outcomes these days, though of course there are exceptions.
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u/Storefrontblue 5d ago
I think the main xfactor is honestly Jenkins. Creating a culture and foundation for the future. Also ensuring that the organization figures out who will be featured players moving forward.