The coverage after Milwaukee's 1-4 start has settled on three questions from the floor: Ryan Rollins' shooting, Gary Trent Jr.'s minutes and whether the rookies are ready. A fourth question, the Porter trade the Bucks declined, rests on reporting with no terms attached.
October 19 to 24
Milwaukee cut Kevin Porter Jr. on October 19. Five days later, a report said the Bucks had turned down a potential Porter trade with the Nuggets. Brew Hoop's Thursday notes column went further, reporting that the Bucks turned down picks for him. Beyond that, no terms have been reported, and Porter is no longer a Buck. What Milwaukee passed on, and why, is still unknown.
October 28
The Houston game set this week's agenda. In the first half, the Journal Sentinel's live coverage had the Bucks shooting 13.6 percent from three and 27 percent overall, and Houston went to the break up 57-35. The paper also pointed out that Kel'el Ware struggled even with Sengun and Adams out for Houston. He finished 2-for-9 at minus-31, the worst Bucks mark of the night.
October 29: the guards
Behind the Buck Pass wrote that Ryan Rollins' breakout is on hold. Brew Hoop's grades said he and Jaime Jaquez Jr. reverted in opposite directions. The box score backs both. Rollins went 2-for-14 for 4 points with five assists, and Jaquez scored 19 on 7-of-13 shooting. The Journal Sentinel argued this team cannot absorb a night like Rollins had, and at 1-4 that is a fair reading.
October 29: Trent
Behind the Buck Pass also argued that Gary Trent Jr.'s path to redemption is blocked for now, and that this is fine. The Journal Sentinel recorded his season debut with 6:55 left and Houston up 104-84. His three points came on a 28-foot step-back at the buzzer. He carries the fifth-largest salary at $15.2 million, and the league's inquiry into his trade, first reported September 23, has produced no new detail.
October 29: the rookies
The Journal Sentinel wrote that Milwaukee's two lottery picks did not look ready for Houston. Brayden Burries, taken 10th in June, had 10 points and six rebounds at minus-18. Nate Ament, taken 13th, shot 2-for-8 and picked up his fourth foul right after he opened the fourth quarter. Both were still on the floor at the final horn. They are getting the minutes, but they are not yet playing well enough to justify them.
Did the Bucks turn down draft picks for Kevin Porter Jr.?
An October 24 report said Milwaukee turned down a potential Porter trade with the Nuggets, and Brew Hoop has since reported that picks were involved. No terms have been reported, and the Bucks had cut him on October 19.
When did Gary Trent Jr. make his Bucks season debut?
He debuted on October 28 against Houston, checking in with 6:55 left and the Bucks down 104-84. He scored three points on a step-back three at the buzzer.
