Yesterday, you read Part I of our first Roundtable for the year, where we talked shop: Bucks record, offensive and defensive ratings, team MVP, and who will make the biggest leap. You know, the more typical season predictions. Part II similarly predicts what’s ahead—but gets a little bolder. Enjoy!
Who (or what) will be the biggest surprise—for better or worse?
Jack: If my “Rollins will put himself in All-Star consideration” answer doesn’t qualify, I will say that Myles Turner has a career-best season. I feel like Turner’s role last year was really suboptimal. He was basically asked to stand out on the three-point line while GA drove to the rim, and then, in the few opportunities he actually got the ball, he was expected to make shots. Doesn’t work that way. You need guys to feel like they’re involved in the game—I think MT will get that this year.
Jackson: I think Myles Turner is due for a resurgence this season. Anyone who followed my articles or ramblings on the podcast know that I was hammering the table for Turner to be used more as a floor spacer on offense and more than just a drop coverage guy on defense in the pick-and-roll. I think he has so much more to offer, and I think he’ll trend back to being an underrated player in the NBA, rather than a potentially overpaid one.
Zac: Nate Ament’s arrival. Folks were largely down on Ament when the Bucks drafted him—even before they drafted him, really—and since then it’s almost become widely accepted as fact that he’ll play most of his basketball this season with the Wisconsin Herd and will be largely ineffective against the big boys in the NBA. Call me overly optimistic, but I see Ament being thrown into the fire—and being all the better for it. He’ll find his niche with this group as a stretch forward who can attack closeouts, earn minutes on the regular, and find a way to have the naysayers rooting for him.
Imagine the wrath of a scorned Kryptonian. That is what the NBA has to look forward to this season… Thanks goodness Superman landed in Milwaukee.
Nate
Aiden: I see the biggest surprise for this Bucks team being fan favourite AJ Green slipping out of the rotation and possibly being traded. I love AJ Green; he has been one of my favourite players over these last few years—his card is one of my favourites in my personal collection. That being said, we have a logjam at the guard position, with the departure of Giannis his skill set has become expendable, and playing him at the three just isn’t feasible. He will be an enticing player for contending teams hoping to add an elite shooter, and the Bucks will be able to get some value from him.
Nate: Kel’el Ware, for better. Imagine the wrath of a scorned Kryptonian. That is what the NBA has to look forward to this season. Ware has had his motor questioned really since college, but his freakish athleticism has never been questioned. While motor issues are nothing to write-off, at 22 years old I am of the belief there is an element to his motor issues that deal with his processing of the game and decision making. That has shown signs of steady improvement each year he has been on our radar throughout college and his two seasons in the association, and this year will be his breakout year. I got the sense at media day he was very ready to start a new chapter, and I think that Jenkins will know exactly how to maximize his strengths. Thanks goodness Superman landed in Milwaukee.
Dax: Jaime Jaquez Jr. will surprise fans this year with his likability. While he may not “wow” in any specific statistical category, he’s a Swiss Army knife and one of the best at that—he took second in 6MOY voting last year. Though he can’t be the Mayor of Milwaukee, he can be Budget Bob. Not to mention, his flow goes crazy.
Jon Horst pulls off another trade deadline move. What is it? (Format as a Shams tweet)
Jack: BREAKING: The Milwaukee Bucks are trading Myles Turner to the Toronto Raptors for Jakob Poeltl and a 2028 first-round pick, sources tell ESPN.
Jackson: BREAKING: The Milwaukee Bucks are trading Tyler Herro to the Dallas Mavericks for Max Christie, Zacchaire Risacher, a 2028 first round pick via the Oklahoma City Thunder and a 2029 second round pick via the Houston Rockets.
Zac: BREAKING: The Milwaukee Bucks are Trading Myles Turner to the Toronto Raptors in exchange for Jakob Poetl and a first round pick, sources tell ESPN. Turner’s agent, Austin Brown of CAA Sports, and Poeltl’s agents, Michael Tellem and Sam Goldfeder of Excel Sports Management, were pivotal to the deal going through.
Aiden: BREAKING: The Milwaukee Bucks are trading AJ Green to the Denver Nuggets for Zeke Naji, Julian Strawther, and two second-round picks.
Nate: BREAKING: The Detroit Pistons are finalizing a deal to send Jalen Duren to the Milwaukee Bucks for Myles Turner, Kevin Porter Jr., and the 2031 Miami Heat unprotected first round pick. Duren agreed to a four year, $172 million dollar deal with a player option on year 4. (This might age like milk in 12 hours).
Editor’s note: It did.
Dax: The New Orleans Pelicans are trading Zion Williamson to the Milwaukee Bucks for Myles Turner, Kevin Porter Jr., Pete Nance, and Miami’s 2031 first-round pick.
Stephen A. Smith calls you up as a guest panelist on First Take. What’s your hot take for the season ahead?
Jack:
Jackson: Brayden Burries wins ROY over the top three draft picks of the 2026 class.
Zac: The Clippers, Nets, Kings, Hawks, and Mavs aren’t the only ones Brayden Burries is going to make look stupid for letting him slip to 10. I don’t give a damn! AJ Dybantsa, Darren Peterson, Cam Boozer, and Caleb Wilson better be All-Stars, ’cause Burries is comin’.
Aiden: My GOAT, LeBron James, will lead this 76ers squad to a championship this season, securing his fifth ring.
Nate: Stephen A: If the Charlotte Hornets don’t give Brandon Miller a rookie-scale max extension it will be a travesty after the breakout year he is having.
Dax: The 2026-27 Milwaukee Bucks will be more fun than the 2018-19 Brooklyn Nets.
We’ve garnered the community’s perspective of this—and Camille Davis’ too—so finish this sentence:
I will judge this season a success if…
Jack: there is an easily identifiable direction with the team and franchise.
Jackson: the rookies look pretty good and the pieces the Bucks got from Miami pan out in some degree.
Zac: the Bucks are fun to watch again.
Aiden: the Bucks surpass the 20-win mark, and if Brayden Burries makes an NBA All-Rookie Team.
Nate: the Bucks exit the season with a discernible identity.
Dax: the Bucks beat the Heat on national television.
That’s a wrap on our preseason Roundtable, folks. We’ll reconvene like King Arthur’s men again in December for an early-season identity check. In the meantime, join the table by sharing your answers in the comments.
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