Cap Watch: A $191.4 Million Payroll With Three Extension…

By the Bucks Nightly Desk · Sunday, October 11

Milwaukee's payroll sits at $191.4 million, over the $165.0 million salary cap but under the $200.4 million tax line, with the first and second aprons at $209.0 million and $221.7 million. Tyler Herro's $33.0 million and Myles Turner's $26.6 million top the books, and extension clocks on Herro and Jaquez are already running, according to Milwaukee reporters.

Bucks Nightly artwork — Illustration by Hoops Nightly.

This week

Extension talk is loud across the roster. Behind the Buck Pass reported October 9 that Herro's own extension audition has started quietly, then reported October 10 that Jaquez's has gotten off to a rough start and that Brandin Podziemski's extension sets a floor for Ryan Rollins' next deal. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Jim Owczarski added that general manager Jon Horst left open the chance of missing an October 19 deadline with Jaquez.

This season

Milwaukee carries $191.4 million in salary for 2026-27, over the $165.0 million cap but under the $200.4 million luxury tax line. Tyler Herro's $33.0 million leads the sheet, followed by Myles Turner's $26.6 million, Damian Lillard's $22.5 million player option, Kyle Kuzma's $20.3 million and Gary Trent Jr.'s $15.2 million.

Next summer

Several deals run out after this season. Herro's $33.0 million, Kuzma's $20.3 million, Caris LeVert's $14.8 million, Jaquez's $5.9 million, and the player options held by Kevin Porter Jr. ($5.4 million) and Jericho Sims ($2.8 million) are all absent from next year's sheet, which would open significant room if none are renewed.

The following season

A few figures grow rather than vanish. Turner's number rises to $27.9 million for 2027-28, Trent Jr.'s to $16.4 million, A.J. Green's to $10.8 million, and Kel'el Ware's to $7.1 million, while Damian Lillard's $22.5 million also carries onto next year's sheet.

Looking ahead

Milwaukee's draft future is thin on control. Of the eight picks listed through 2030, six are swaps rather than outright selections — the 2027, 2028, 2029 and 2030 first-rounders, plus the 2028 and 2029 second-rounders. Only the 2027 second-round pick is fully Milwaukee's own; the 2030 second is owed outright to Orlando.

Next The date to watch is October 19, the deadline Horst flagged for a possible Jaquez extension; miss it, and that contract talk waits until next summer.

Are the Bucks over the salary cap this season?

Yes. Milwaukee's $191.4 million payroll is over the $165.0 million salary cap but under the $200.4 million luxury tax line.

Which Bucks players are in extension talks right now?

Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., and Ryan Rollins all have extension talk in progress, according to Behind the Buck Pass and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.