Jericho Sims just had the best season of his career, but for the Milwaukee Bucks, it sounds like that might actually be the fastest way out the door. The 27-year-old big man posted career highs across the board in the 2025-26 campaign, yet all signs point to him becoming trade bait for the Bucks’ front office.
From Bench Guy to Crucial Contributor
Last season, Sims showed up big time as the Bucks’ backup center. He delivered 5.0 PPG, 5.5 RPG, and 1.6 APG, doing all the dirty work as a gritty, athletic rim-runner. The dude hustled and fought for every board, which was huge considering Milwaukee was one of the league’s worst rebounding teams. That effort earned him more playing time, especially when starting center Myles Turner struggled to convert in the choppy Bucks offense. Sims ended up getting more first-team reps and started nine of Milwaukee’s final 12 games. This guy is one of the league’s best rim finishers, with world-class athleticism, great strength, a huge wingspan, and a tireless motor. Even at 6’10”,relatively small for an NBA center,he scored on a crazy 83.4% of his attempts at the rim. Plus, he was a monster on the offensive glass, pulling down 2.2 offensive rebounds per contest, and he’s agile enough to switch onto smaller wings and guards on pick-and-rolls.
The Elephant in the Paint: Sims’ Weaknesses and Ware’s Arrival
Despite all that raw athleticism and hustle, Sims has some clear struggles. His offensive game practically disappears outside the paint, and his 62% from the free throw line is tough to watch. He was also pretty turnover-prone, coughing up the ball 1.1 times per game even with his extremely low usage rate. Foul trouble was a frequent issue, and he got called for a ton of illegal screens. Now, looking ahead, things just got a lot harder for Sims to get first-team reps with the arrival of Kel’el Ware. Ware is younger, has a perimeter game, is a better defender, and is a more willing rebounder. Honestly, there isn’t much of an argument for Sims to get more minutes than Ware this season.
On the Chopping Block?
Sims might have opted into his $2.8 million player option this summer, but don’t get too comfortable with him staying in Milwaukee. He’s reportedly a prime trade option for the Bucks as they look to clear cap space and accumulate more draft capital. His salary makes him super easy for other teams to pick up. Both the Lakers and Knicks have shown interest in bringing him in as a high-energy, versatile backup. With Milwaukee’s big man rotation getting crowded, general manager Jon Horst might be looking to use Sims’ small, expiring contract to his advantage. Keep your eyes peeled: Sims could be on the chopping block come February.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Brew Hoop.
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