Last season's ratings and this fall's payroll set the frame for a retooled roster, while three preseason games have already nudged playing time toward a few reserves. None of it settles what this team is before Friday's opener.
Last season
Milwaukee finished 32-50, with a net rating of minus-6.1 that ranked 25th in the league on a pace of 98.3. Indiana, tonight's opponent, was worse by the same measure at 19-63 and minus-7.8. Both numbers describe where each club sat a year ago. Neither says anything about a roster built around Herro, Turner, Jaquez Jr. and Kuzma, which Indiana has not faced in the regular season.
This summer
Payroll sits at $191.4 million across 19 contracts, above the $165.0 million salary cap, yet $9.0 million below the $200.4 million tax line. That gap is room to add before the first apron, not a plan already in motion. Milwaukee has not touched it since remaking the roster in June.
Last 10 games
Jericho Sims is averaging 28.9 minutes per game across his last 10 outings, a sharp climb from his season norm. It shows Taylor Jenkins leaning on him more than at any point so far this fall. It does not settle whether that workload holds once Myles Turner and Kevin Porter Jr. are both back.
Last 5 games
Pete Nance's minutes have climbed to 28.2 a night across his last five games, well above his season rate. Taurean Prince is playing 8 more minutes per game across his last three outings whenever a teammate sits out. Both trends track injuries and rest more than a settled rotation.
Tonight
Milwaukee is 1-2 this preseason, having beaten Oklahoma City on the road and lost to Charlotte and Chicago. Indiana opens its own slate at 0-0. The preseason record carries no weight once the regular season begins October 21 at Washington; it mainly shows a rotation still being sorted out.
Why is Jericho Sims playing so many minutes this preseason?
He has averaged 28.9 minutes across his last 10 outings, the largest jump on the roster, while Myles Turner and Kevin Porter Jr. work through rest-related absences this week.
How far is Milwaukee from the NBA luxury tax?
Payroll sits at $191.4 million, about $9.0 million below the $200.4 million tax line, with the first apron set at $209.0 million.
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