The day after the 128-116 opening loss in Washington, the outlets covering Milwaukee wrote about three things: a Warriors call about Kristaps Porzingis, the foul trouble that sank the frontcourt, and who should get guard minutes. The box score supports the rotation debate far more than it supports any trade talk.
This summer
The June 23 deal that sent Antetokounmpo to Miami, with Bobby Portis, brought back Herro, Jakucionis, Kel'el Ware and Jaquez, and it still shapes the coverage. Brew Hoop's Jack Trehearne graded the opener and had that group leading an encouraging loss. The line backs him up: Herro had 24 points and nine assists, Jaquez scored 22 on 8-of-12 shooting, and Jakucionis added 15 off the bench. Ware, with seven points in 14 minutes, is the exception.
Oct. 19
Milwaukee cut Kevin Porter Jr. Behind the Buck Pass's Dalton Sell wrote that Jakucionis immediately justified the decision. One game is a thin sample, but it points the same way: the 20-year-old went 4-of-7, made all six free throws, finished minus-4 in 26 minutes and was on the floor at the final horn. Pete Nance, waived Oct. 17, came back on a two-way contract the day after Porter left.
Oct. 21
Jim Owczarski's running account in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel kept coming back to fouls. Anthony Davis drew two quick ones on Myles Turner, which gave him four. Ware had five with 3:35 left in the third and fouled out with 9:33 to play. Milwaukee still led 93-90 after three quarters. Then Washington scored 14 straight from 98-97. ESPN's recap credited Davis with 34 in his Washington debut, and he went 11-of-14 at the line.
Oct. 22: the rotation
Behind the Buck Pass's Swoosh Shrestha argued that AJ Green has to show more if he is going to keep taking minutes from Brayden Burries. Opening night doesn't settle it. Burries scored 12, made both of his threes and was minus-12 in 16 minutes, while Green was minus-10 in 15. Burries played in the closing five-man group, and Green was on at the horn. Owczarski noted that Taylor Jenkins held to 10 players in the first half.
Oct. 22: the Warriors call
Hoops Rumors' Luke Adams listed Milwaukee among the teams the Warriors contacted about Kristaps Porzingis, and Shrestha framed him as the answer to a Turner problem. That is an argument, not a deal, and no trade has been reported. Turner's $26.6 million is the second-largest salary on a $191.4 million payroll that sits $9 million under the tax line. Every Milwaukee first-round pick through 2030 is a swap.
Are the Bucks trading for Kristaps Porzingis?
No trade has been reported. Hoops Rumors wrote that the Warriors contacted Milwaukee, along with other teams, about him.
Why did the Bucks lose to the Wizards in the season opener?
Anthony Davis scored 34, and Washington turned a 98-97 game into a 111-98 lead with a 14-0 fourth-quarter run on the way to a 128-116 win.
