Milwaukee Bucks Small Forward Depth Chart After Free Agency

The Milwaukee Bucks look set to piece things together at small forward this season, using a mix of different guys to cover the spot.

They didn’t go out and land a true starting-caliber small forward in free agency, but they’ve got options—and a few directions they can go in when setting their starting five.

One of those possibilities is Kyle Kuzma. He’s not included in this breakdown, but it’s worth mentioning him. Kuzma’s natural position is power forward, which is where he played for most of his career until Milwaukee picked him up at the trade deadline. The Bucks slid him to the three to create a jumbo-sized frontcourt, but the experiment didn’t exactly pan out.

For a variety of reasons, Kuzma struggled in Milwaukee. He averaged just 14.5 points—his lowest since 2020-21—and posted a drop in rebounds and assists as well.

GM Jon Horst reportedly wants to get him back to the four, where he’s most comfortable. Of course, that’s tricky with Giannis Antetokounmpo locked in at that spot.

Same goes for Gary Trent Jr. and AJ Green—neither are listed here, even though one of them might end up starting at small forward. They’re both more natural fits at shooting guard, which is where we’ve got them slotted.

So, with those guys set aside, here’s a look at the small forwards currently in the mix post-free agency:

Taurean Prince

Prince started 73 games at the three for the Bucks last season and, all things considered, held his own. He put up 8.2 points a night and shot an impressive 43.9 percent from deep—right in line with what you’d expect from him.

His floor-spacing is his main value. He gives Giannis and the other creators room to work by forcing defenders to stay honest. That said, if he puts the ball on the floor, things tend to go sideways quickly.

He’ll likely slide into a bench role this year. Horst wants him guarding both threes and fours off the pine, which probably suits where he’s at in his career. After logging 27 minutes per game last season, expect that number to dip closer to 20 in 2025-26.

Andre Jackson Jr.

Jackson Jr. is fighting for his roster spot heading into camp. He’s entering Year 3 of his rookie deal and has shown flashes here and there—but consistency, especially on offense, has been a major issue.

He’s a crazy athlete, but you’d never know it watching him on the offensive end. He almost refuses to look at the basket when he’s got the ball in his hands, which has severely limited his effectiveness.

The Bucks gave him a partial guarantee for next season but pushed the full guarantee date back to the start of the regular season. That gives them a little more time to see where he fits, especially with a full roster in play.

If Milwaukee decides to make another roster move, Jackson Jr. is probably the odd man out. He just hasn’t figured out how to harness that athleticism into an NBA-level game.

Final Word

The Bucks have bodies at small forward, but no clear answer. Prince is solid in a limited role, and Jackson Jr. is still a work in progress. Milwaukee might roll with a guard at the three—or stay flexible depending on matchups. Either way, this spot is still very much up for grabs.