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Jaquez's Extension Clock Ticks While His Jumper Lags

Milwaukee weighs an extension for its Miami-born wing while his three-point shot still lags.

By the Bucks Nightly Desk · Wednesday, October 14

Jaime Jaquez Jr. arrived from Miami in June as part of the trade that sent Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Heat, and last season's numbers show a reliable two-way wing who still can't shoot from three. Milwaukee has roughly a week left to decide whether to extend him, with his coach already pushing him harder on defense.

Jaime Jaquez Jr. of the Bucks
Jaime Jaquez Jr.. Photo: Steve Cheng, Bruin Report, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Last season

In Miami, Jaquez Jr. played 75 games at 28.3 minutes, putting up 15.4 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.7 assists. He connected on 50.7 percent of his shots overall but just 31.7 percent on 2.4 three-point tries a game, leaning on drives and midrange work over spacing. His turnovers sat at 2.0 a game, free throws at 76.9 percent.

This summer

Milwaukee acquired him on June 23 in the deal that sent Giannis Antetokounmpo to Miami, with Bobby Portis going as well; center Kel'el Ware, guard Kasparas Jakucionis and guard Tyler Herro came back the other way. The move reshaped Milwaukee's wing group around Herro and Myles Turner, with Jaquez Jr. projected as a secondary scorer and ball-handler.

Oct. 13

Jim Owczarski of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel wrote that Milwaukee has about a week left to decide whether to extend Jaquez Jr., noting an extension could make sense but not at a steep number. His current deal pays $5.9 million in 2026-27, the last guaranteed season before that call lands.

Oct. 14

Behind the Buck Pass's Dalton Sell wrote that head coach Taylor Jenkins has been pushing Jaquez Jr. harder on defense, framing it as exactly the adjustment this group needs. His last-season defensive rating of 111.9 and net rating of plus-2.9 stood out on a Miami team that finished well below break-even, numbers Milwaukee hopes travel north with him.

Right now

Jaquez Jr. is not on the injury report and projects as a regular in Milwaukee's wing rotation alongside Herro and Kyle Kuzma. The verdict is plain: the defense and the handle already translate, so the swing skill is the jumper. Push that 31.7 percent closer to league average, and both the rotation spot and the next contract get easier to justify.

Next The regular-season opener is Oct. 21 at Washington, the date Jaquez Jr.'s preseason work starts counting toward the season that shapes his next contract.
What is Jaime Jaquez Jr.'s role with the Bucks this season?

He projects as a wing rotation piece next to Tyler Herro and Kyle Kuzma, valued for his defense and shot creation after arriving in the June 23 trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Is Jaime Jaquez Jr. getting a contract extension?

Milwaukee was weighing that decision as of Oct. 13, per Jim Owczarski of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, with his current $5.9 million salary running through 2026-27.

By the Bucks Nightly Desk, written from the club's data and the reports on file, with every name and number checked against them. How the desks work.

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