Milwaukee closes its preseason slate at Indiana on Friday, a final tune-up before the October 21 regular-season opener at Washington. A RealGM report named Jericho Sims in trade talks between the Bucks and Lakers involving Dalton Knecht, sharper detail than Jake Fischer's broader report a day earlier.
Last season
Milwaukee finished 32-50 last season, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2016-17. Indiana finished 19-63 the same year. Myles Turner spent that season in a Pacers jersey before the Bucks signed him away this summer, a thread that runs under every meeting between these two clubs now.
This summer
Milwaukee sent its two most recognizable names to Miami in June, bringing back Tyler Herro, Jaquez Jr., Kel'el Ware and rookie guard Jakucionis. The draft added Brayden Burries and forward Ament. Free agency brought in Turner, signed straight off the roster Indiana will put on the floor Friday.
This week
The exhibition slate has been uneven: a 128-126 win at Oklahoma City on October 7, a 90-105 loss at Charlotte on October 11, then a 104-125 home loss to Chicago on October 14. Eight regulars sat out that Chicago game to rest, Turner and Herro among them, part of why Friday's finale still carries roster stakes.
Yesterday
Jake Fischer reported Wednesday that the Bucks, Lakers and Grizzlies were exploring trades without naming players. RealGM sharpened that Thursday: Los Angeles and Milwaukee have discussed a deal involving Lakers forward Dalton Knecht and Bucks center Jericho Sims. Sims has hardly been short on minutes lately — 28.9 a night over his last ten games, well above his season norm.
Tonight
Milwaukee visits Indiana for the preseason finale; Carlisle's Pacers are also 0-0. Herro, Turner, Trent Jr., Jaquez Jr., Green, Rollins, Kuzma and Porter Jr. all carry rest-related tags with Friday listed as a possible return, while Ament's ankle question remains open. Indiana lists Nesmith, Walker and Nembhard with similar tags, and Furphy is out with a knee injury.
Is Jericho Sims being traded by the Bucks?
No deal is final. RealGM reported October 16 that the Bucks and Lakers have discussed Sims as part of trade talks involving Dalton Knecht, but nothing has been completed.
When do the Bucks play their next preseason game?
Milwaukee closes its preseason schedule Friday, October 16, at Indiana. The regular-season opener follows October 21 at Washington.
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