Milwaukee Bucks

Kel'el Ware says he can play power forward for the Bucks if needed alongside Myles Turner, who spaces the floor and contests shots, letting Ware sprint out in transition: "I'm able to be agile a little bit more." He calls Taylor Jenkins's system "pretty much the same" as Miami's.

Nate Ament went through everything in the Bucks' Oct. 19 contact practice, and Taylor Jenkins will see how he responds on Oct. 20. The G League hasn't even come up: "right now I want him thinking about carving out a rotational spot for us." Everyone else was available.

Kyle Kuzma has made progress recently in the Bucks' offense and on defense, Taylor Jenkins said, calling it "a big year for him." Asked if Kuzma, who started much of the preseason, starts opening night, Jenkins didn't commit: "We're still working through our starting lineup."

Ryan Rollins says his role with the Bucks is much bigger this season: "Controlling the offense, playing with pace, being the initial thrust on both ends of the court." He also said opponents' scouting reports are "more aware of me than they were last year."

Tyler Herro is settling into the ball-handling role Bucks coach Taylor Jenkins wants for him: "My best years I've had were on the ball, but I can do a little bit of both." He expects to be ready by the end of camp and says drawing opponents' best defenders will free up teammates.

Rather than trim everyone's minutes, Taylor Jenkins sits a few Bucks each preseason game so players are built up to 20 to 25 minutes a night. Even so, for the preseason finale against Indiana: "I doubt everyone gets to regular season minutes." Nate Ament alone missed camp.

Kasparas Jakucionis got about three first-half minutes for the Bucks on Oct. 14 after two early fouls. Not smart, he admitted, but coaches like his aggression: "I'll definitely not be passive now." Bigger worry: about 41 opponent points off turnovers. "That's really bad."

Rookie Brayden Burries made his first start for the Bucks on Oct. 14: "I just wanted to go out there and make the best of that opportunity." On his preseason misses: "Most of the shots taken is good shots, just missing." He'll keep shooting when open.

Against Chicago's starters, Bucks coach Taylor Jenkins praised Kasparas Jakucionis, Brayden Burries and Kam Jones off the bench. Burries' shot didn't fall, but Jenkins backed him: "His rhythm will come... he's trying to be in attack mode."

Jaime Jaquez Jr.'s role is open: Bucks coach Taylor Jenkins wouldn't say if he'll start or come off the bench, only "I really want him to take that next step defensively." From the same session, on an unnamed player's opening-night status: "still TBD... he's on track."

Myles Turner says the Bucks' new staff is changing his role: "I am being asked to crash the glass more than I have been in the past... you'll see me playmaking a little bit more," from the top of the key. Too old for a rebuild? "I'm not that old, dude. I'm 30, bro."

Bucks coach Taylor Jenkins hopes Tyler Herro, out sick Oct. 13, is back Oct. 14. Nate Ament is moving more in the half court but still "constrained" — "positive progress," Jenkins said. AJ Green's knee, hurt against Minnesota, "feels good"; he's in knee pads and "good to go."

Kyle Kuzma and Kasparas Jakucionis, who sat out two of three preseason games, will "get opportunities" for the Bucks in game 4 on Oct. 14, coach Taylor Jenkins said. Defense must be their top focus: "the entire team defensively, we're struggling there right now."

Myles Turner had five blocks, and Bucks coach Taylor Jenkins wants more. He said Turner is in a good place and expects him to keep improving as Milwaukee unlocks his elite rim protection: "The blocked shots are awesome, but can he just be a presence that deters?"

Ryan Rollins fouled out of the Bucks' preseason opener but recalibrated in game two, Taylor Jenkins said, and he shouldn't lose that defensive edge while Milwaukee grows his offense. "We know Ryan's at his best when he's a great point-of-attack defender. He's a disruptor."

Nate Ament was the only Bucks player who did not practice. Imaging showed "nothing overly concerning," Taylor Jenkins said, with a timeline expected within about 24 hours. "He's aiming to play opening night," and the team will "do everything possible the next 2 weeks."

Rookie Brayden Burries has been handling the ball for most of Milwaukee Bucks practices, with guard Kevin Porter Jr coaching him through it. "I try to have him on ball most of practice so I can talk him through some things," Porter said.

"I feel like I'm the strongest I've been," Kevin Porter Jr said after offseason surgery, his first. The Bucks guard says it deepened his appreciation for the game and predicts "the best year for me individually." He cited "what happened to" rookie Nate Ament, no status given.

Kasparas Jakucionis and Ousmane Dieng may be in line for a longer look with the Bucks. Taylor Jenkins said he hopes both get more chances: "hopefully with more opportunity in the next couple of weeks, we're just going to see more growth."

Whether Kel'el Ware and Myles Turner start together or one comes off the bench is open, Bucks coach Taylor Jenkins said. Against Charlotte, Chicago and Indiana he'll try different schemes for the pair, starting with better pick-and-roll play and Ware rolling to the rim more.

Two games into his career, Brayden Burries helped close a tight fourth quarter for the Bucks at Oklahoma City, including a dunk off a drive. "He kind of relishes those moments," Taylor Jenkins said. "I don't think he gets sped up." He'll push him on late-game offense.

Kel'el Ware and Myles Turner will keep playing together over the Bucks' next three games. Taylor Jenkins said both bigs can make plays on the perimeter and shoot, which gives Milwaukee versatility: "seeing those 2 guys together, it's been on my mind."

At Oklahoma City on Oct. 7, Bucks coach Taylor Jenkins expects to work in some of Kasparas Jakucionis, Ousmane Dieng and Bogoljub Markovic ("Not sure if it'll be all the guys") and will settle it with staff on the flight. Nate Ament is due minutes, but "later in the game."

"I don't want Tyler just to be a guy that's playing off the ball." Bucks coach Taylor Jenkins will put Tyler Herro in more situations handling pressure. With a guard-heavy roster, he will test lineups through preseason before deciding on opening night.

Nate Ament's preseason debut for the Bucks opened with a catch-and-shoot 3 and a putback off a missed shot. "It was a dream come true. Something I've been waiting for ever since I picked up the basketball," he said. He felt comfortable with the speed but tired late.

Kyle Kuzma started at power forward in the Bucks' preseason opener as Taylor Jenkins tests Kel'el Ware beside different bigs. "I want to see Kel'el with Myles a little bit more," Jenkins said of Myles Turner. He likes two-big length but wants better rim protection.

Feeling "great" and "healthy" after a summer of international basketball, the Bucks' Kasparas Jakucionis says Taylor Jenkins' pick-and-roll emphasis suits him. He barely ran it last year, but "it's in my nature and I always feel the most comfortable playing pick and roll."

Bucks media availability: Kam Jones, on a two-way deal, said Taylor Jenkins told him he and Cormac Ryan will compete for minutes regardless of contract status: "it just gives you more hope." Caris LeVert said rookie Brayden Burries is ready to contribute right away.

Kam Jones, on a two-way deal, called a possible G League assignment to Oshkosh "just the next opportunity." With guards crowded, he pitched himself as a "plug-and-play guy" whose biggest edge is defense. Caris LeVert said rookie Nate Ament "has surprised a lot of people."

Bucks' Taylor Jenkins: all players full participants all 3 days of camp, but he doesn't expect anyone over 30 minutes in the next game: "we'll build up as we go." Opening-night minutes will probably go to whoever best grasps team priorities; his thinking can change day to day.

Jenkins on Myles Turner, Kel'el Ware and Jericho Sims learning the new system: he wants them "very vocal early and super active on that side of the floor... Especially at the rim." On G League Herd stints: "it's not a demotion," and he doesn't yet know who goes or when.