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For now, though, let's say that the Bucks do stay at No. 10. We've already written about Milwaukee's interest in the top guards on the board … everyone from Darius Acuff Jr. to Keaton Wagler to Mikel Brown Jr. after flying down to Orlando to meet with Brown. I've since been told that a Milwaukee contingent including general manager Jon Horst and new head coach Taylor Jenkins also traveled to New York recently to visit with Nate Ament during this pre-draft process. Now the Bucks are being looked at by some rival teams as the absolute floor for the Tennessee forward. Sources say Ament has drawn interest as high as the Clippers at No. 5, Brooklyn at No. 6 and ranks as a strong contender to emerge as Dallas' ultimate pick at No. 9.
Michael Scotto: Sources: The Milwaukee Bucks will add Patrick St. Andrews as an assistant coach, reuniting him with coach Taylor Jenkins. He was an assistant coach for the Blazers. Prior, he was an assistant coach with Jenkins on the Grizzlies and with Mike Budenholzer on the Bucks and Hawks.
Paul Pierce: "You're asking the guy (Taylor Jenkins) to do basically what he did in Memphis, to come in here. They're in the middle of turmoil. You lose your coach. Your superstar, the best player that ever played for your franchise, wants out. And he's looking at the long run here. What does the long run look like? When you hire new coaches, you have reason to be optimistic. But this situation looks tough. If things don't change, he has a three-year window, probably, I'm going to guess, regardless of whatever his contract says, that if things don't turn around, they're going to be looking for a new coach. I just don't see a solid foundation right now if Giannis leaves. I don't see a clear future if Giannis Antetokounmpo leaves. Unless they can get into the lottery this year, which nobody's trading their lottery picks this year. I doubt it. So it looks dim in Milwaukee right now."
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Tim Bontemps: In the wake of Milwaukee Bucks co-owner Jimmy Haslam's comments at coach Taylor Jenkins' introductory news conference earlier this month, it seems like the Giannis Antetokounmpo saga could finally get some clarity between now and the draft. And, after years of "will they, won't they," the growing belief around the league is that this time an Antetokoumpo trade will actually happen. "It just feels like they're done with the circus, more than anything," an East executive said. "They seem to want a clean break and to move on."
And, Antetokounmpo gave an endorsement on the hire to the Journal Sentinel. “I think he’s an incredible person,” Antetokounmpo said. “Obviously, he’s an incredible coach. I was able to be with him in 2019 and we made the Eastern Conference finals. "After that he left, he was one of the first coaches that left the coaching staff and went to Memphis and he had an incredible six years in Memphis. He made them contenders in the West. He had incredible culture in Memphis. "I had the conversation. I don’t think Milwaukee is just getting just a good coach, I think they’re getting a good person. And that’s where it starts with. Having a good person around that’s gonna be able to set the tone, that set the culture and what Milwaukee Bucks basketball is all about. He’s a really good coach.” As for the prospect of being coached by Jenkins, Antetokounmpo said, “We’ll see.”
But Jenkins did acknowledge the looming decision on which direction the team is going to take with – or without – Antetokounmpo was a key point in the hours long discussions he had with co-owners Haslam and Wes Edens, as well as Horst. “It’s a big one,” Haslam said of the decision over the future of its franchise cornerstone. “It’s a big one. And you gotta get it right. And Jon knows it and Wes knows it. And we didn’t hold back with Taylor. We just said, listen, he may or may not be with us, so don’t come because of that because you want to be straight up with people.”
The Grizzlies tried different coaching voices leading the offense and schematic changes, but they were unable to reach the desired level. That was the most notable area of constant change, but Jenkins also shifted player developmental strategies and practice designs after each season. "There's habit-farming, consistency and a discipline that you got to have to that, but you got to be thinking about not just reinventing, but reiterating, getting creative and adapting to new strategies to help yourself get better on the court," Jenkins said.
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So with that being said, Taylor Jenkins, your new head coach — what kind of conversations have you had with him? How have you been able to get a relationship with him going so far?” Ryan Rollins: “Yeah, I mean, I haven’t called him, but I have texted him a couple times, too, just congratulating him and his family. It’s a good situation that we’re coming into, having a new head coach. I don’t know all that’s going to be switched around by the time next season comes, but I’m just ready to come in and make an impact, continue the growth, build a culture, and build a winning foundation. You know what I mean? That’s really what I’m keyed in on and ready for next season.”
Per league sources, new Bucks coach Taylor Jenkins signed a long-term deal with a salary that is well north of $10 million annually. Jenkins isn’t the highest-paid coach in the league, as that honor goes to Golden State’s Steve Kerr at $17.5 million annually (for now, as he continues to contemplate whether to return). Miami’s Erik Spoelstra is second (approximately $15 million). And Jenkins, the former Memphis Grizzlies coach who was once a Bucks assistant in Antetokounmpo’s early days, is up there now.
Eric Nehm: The Bucks have made the hiring of Taylor Jenkins official. The introductory press conference will be next Wednesday at 2 p.m. at the Milwaukee Art Museum. Here is the press release: