Predicting Who Bucks Cut From Logjammed 17-Player Roster

The Milwaukee Bucks have started a new era following the blockbuster trade that sent Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis to the Miami Heat.

Now, Milwaukee must resolve the roster congestion created by its busy offseason.

The Bucks have 17 players on standard contracts but can carry only 15 into the regular season. Although they can wait until the conclusion of training camp, the front office must eventually make two trades or cuts.

Milwaukee received Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakučionis, Nate Ament and substantial draft capital in the Antetokounmpo deal. The Bucks also drafted Brayden Burries, signed Bogoljub Marković and retained Gary Trent Jr.

With the franchise beginning a rebuild, Milwaukee should prioritize players who fit its long-term timeline. That could place Jericho Sims and Kevin Porter Jr. in the most vulnerable positions.

Sims is the clearest cut because the Bucks already possess considerable depth at center.

Myles Turner remains Milwaukee’s highest-paid big man, while the 22-year-old Ware represents one of the most important pieces acquired from Miami. Ware averaged 11.4 points, 9.8 rebounds and 1.3 blocks during the 2025-26 season, establishing himself as a potential long-term starter.

Keeping three traditional centers would be difficult to justify, especially because Turner and Ware should consume nearly all the available minutes at the position.

Sims can provide athleticism, rebounding and emergency depth, but his offensive limitations reduce his value on a rebuilding team trying to evaluate younger, more versatile players. Milwaukee could attempt to trade him for a future second-round pick before considering a release.

The second decision is more complicated, but Porter could become the victim of Milwaukee’s crowded backcourt.

The Bucks already have Herro, Burries, Jakučionis, Ryan Rollins, AJ Green, Trent and Caris LeVert competing for guard minutes. Herro will command a major offensive role, while Burries and Jakučionis need opportunities to develop.

Porter can create shots and handle the ball, but his skill set overlaps with several players Milwaukee has a greater incentive to feature. At 26, he also occupies an awkward middle ground for a team shifting its attention toward younger prospects.

Ousmane Dieng and Marković might appear vulnerable based on their projected places near the end of the rotation. Cutting either player, however, would contradict Milwaukee’s rebuilding direction. The Bucks should use this season to evaluate young, controllable talent instead of protecting every veteran.

A trade remains the preferable outcome. Turner, Kyle Kuzma, LeVert and Porter could all attract varying levels of interest, and a consolidation deal would solve the roster problem without losing players for nothing.

If no trade materializes, Sims and Porter are the logical cuts. Removing them would balance the roster, open developmental minutes and allow Milwaukee to begin evaluating the pieces that could define its post-Antetokounmpo future.