The Milwaukee Bucks will exercise their rookie-scale team options on Kel’el Ware and Kasparas Jakucionis for the 2027-28 season, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.
Scotto reported the decisions on Monday, November 2, with Ware’s option valued at $7.14 million and Jakucionis’ at $4.02 million.
The moves will keep both young players under contract for another season as Milwaukee continues to develop its roster. Ware, 22, is in the third year of a four-year, $20.5 million rookie contract, while Jakucionis, 20, is in the second year of a four-year, $17.7 million deal.
Ware has averaged 11.4 points and 8.7 rebounds in 19.3 minutes across seven games with Milwaukee in 2026-27. He is shooting 44.1% from the field, 25% from three-point range and 73.7% at the free-throw line, while adding 0.9 blocks per game.
The center spent his first two NBA seasons with the Miami Heat. He averaged 9.3 points and 7.4 rebounds in 64 games in 2024-25, then improved to 11.1 points and 9.0 rebounds across 77 appearances in 2025-26, shooting 39.5% from beyond the arc.
Jakucionis is averaging 8.1 points, 4.4 assists and 3.1 rebounds in 22.4 minutes through seven games with the Bucks. He is shooting 42.5% from the field, 20% from three-point range and 86.4% from the free-throw line.
The guard averaged 6.2 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 53 games with Miami during his rookie season in 2025-26. His assist average has increased to 4.4 in his first seven appearances with Milwaukee.
The Bucks are 1-6 through seven games of the 2026-27 season.
