Draft Outlook
The cupboard is pretty bare after the trade for P.J. Tucker before the trade deadline — Milwaukee no longer has first-round picks in 2021, 2023, 2025 or 2027, and 2024 and 2026 are swaps with New Orleans as a result of the Jrue Holiday deal. That’s not shocking given GM Jon Horst and his bosses going all-in on the current roster and its championship window, but it does make one leg of the proverbial three-legged personnel stool — trades, free agents and Drafts — shorter than the other two. The core of this team around Giannis Antetokounmpo — Khris Middleton, Holiday, Brook Lopez — all are either older than 30 or approaching it (Middleton).
A Stat That Matters
1 — The Bucks were the only team that ranked in the top five in both the percentage of their shots that came in the first six seconds of the shot clock (16.5%, fourth highest) and the percentage of their opponents’ shots that came in the first six seconds (12.6%, third lowest).
The Way To Go
There’s a solid tradition of getting players in the second round, including the Bucks’ landing of Malcolm Brogdon at No. 36 in 2016 (who wound up as Kia Rookie of the Year). Even without super-sleuthing, all it takes is for one projected first-rounder to fall to them. As far as need, Milwaukee could shore up its depth across the board. But with Lopez turning 34 by the end of next season and Bobby Portis likely headed to greener ($) pastures in free agency, size is a legit need. A couple of bigs expected to go in the vicinity of No. 31 include North Carolina’s Day’Ron Sharpe and Western Kentucky’s Charles Bassey.
Under Contract
G: Jrue Holiday
G: Donte DiVincenzo
G: Pat Connaughton
G: Sam Merrill
G: Elijah Bryant
F: Khris Middleton
F: Giannis Antetokounmpo
F: Jordan Nwora
F: Mamadi Diakite
C: Brook Lopez
Free Agents
G: Bryn Forbes (player option)
G: Jeff Teague (unrestricted)
G/F: Axel Toupane (restricted)
F: Thanasis Antetokounmpo (restricted)
F: Justin Jackson (restricted)
F: P.J. Tucker (unrestricted)
F: Bobby Portis (player option)
Last Year’s Draft
2020: Jordan Nwora (45), Sam Merrill (60)*
* = acquired via trade
— Steve Aschburner