The Milwaukee Bucks face a tough question for the upcoming season, one that’s been quietly brewing: who starts at small forward? This isn’t some easy call either, because the team literally doesn’t have a single player on the roster who was a full-time starter at the three last year. AJ Green? Nah, we know how that went. But hold on, because last year’s Sixth Man of the Year runner-up, Jaime Jaquez Jr., is making a seriously strong case for that starting spot, and it’s built on a foundation of pure hustle.
Jaquez Jr. Is the Jack-of-All-Trades the Bucks Need
Jaime Jaquez Jr. has “first dibs” on the small forward position, and you can see why. He’s that “Jack of all trades, master of none” guy every championship-contending team needs. His complementary skills are exactly what the Bucks’ starting five craves. First off, his playmaking is *legit*. We’re talking 4.7 assists per game with a 24% assist percentage. That’s not just a good number, that’s clutch. Why? Because you’ve got natural scorers like Ryan Rollins and Tyler Herro in the likely starting backcourt. They can create, sure, but they aren’t your first-rate distributors. Jaquez can take that pressure off them, freeing them up to do what they do best: put points on the board. And let’s not forget the bigs, Myles Turner and Kel’el Ware. Those guys rely on others to set them up, big time. We’re talking 87.3% and 76.2% of their made field goals assisted! Jaquez is the perfect guy to feed them.
But here’s the real kicker: this dude thrives in the paint. Think about it, with shooters all around in the starting lineup, someone has to attack the rim and collapse the defense. There’s a gaping, Giannis-sized hole there, and while Jaquez can’t fill it alone, he led the Heat in points in the paint last season with 9.9 per game! That’s more than two points higher than *any* non-Giannis Buck last year. Kevin Porter Jr. was second for the Bucks at 7.6 points per game. Jaquez is coming in to do some serious dirty work inside, and that grit is exactly what this team needs.
The Intriguing Upside of Ousmane Dieng
While Jaquez Jr. definitely holds a strong hand, you can’t sleep on Ousmane Dieng. Before the offseason, the word was that Dieng was the young piece the Bucks were building around. Maybe that’s a bit much, but he was certainly an intriguing option who flashed serious promise down the stretch. We saw glimpses of something special with this kid. He twice hit five threes in a game! That’s pure firepower from the wing. And his versatility? We’re talking double-digit assists twice, and double-digit rebounds three times. This guy can do it all. His showings against teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, and even the Phoenix Suns proved he’s got that high-level, all-around game. He’s a wild card, but a high-upside one.
So, who gets the nod? This small forward decision isn’t just about one player, it’s about the entire offensive flow. The Bucks are heading into the season with a clear choice to make, and it’s going to shape how this team attacks and defends. We’re talking about a lineup that needs to gel from day one, and this starting small forward pick is critical to getting that chemistry right as the season kicks off. Get ready, because this is going to be a fascinating watch.
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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