Bucks To Hold Pre-Draft Workout Sunday

Below is a guest post from Cole Brown, a college basketball blogger at Madtown Badgers.

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Update: Chris Johnson and Kris Joseph also participated in the workout, while Charlie Westbrook did not (though he may get a future look, since the Bucks are usually generous at giving local talent a tryout).

Chris Johnson
Position: Small Forward
College: Dayton
Height: 6’6
Weight: 201 pounds
2011-12 Stats: 12.4 ppg, 1.3 apg 6.4 rpg, 0.7 spg
Projected Draft Position: Undrafted
Analysis: Johnson is an athletic three guard who is an absolute beast on the boards. He is very good on the offensive glass and has a great outside jumper. He is an explosive player known for his dunks and tip slams. He sometimes is known to disappear from games and isn’t a great defender. If needed, he could likely make an adjustment to play two guard in the NBA. Johnson is another guy who would be a stretch at pick #42.

Kris Joseph
Position: Small Forward
College: Dayton
Height: 6’7
Weight: 210 pounds
2011-12 Stats: 13.4 ppg, 1.5 apg 4.7 rpg, 1.4 spg
Projected Draft Position: Mid-late second round
Analysis: Joseph is a long, lanky Small Forward who is a great finisher around the rim. He has a consistent jumper and is a great defender. Joseph lacks quickness and explosiveness, but makes up for it in his length. He will likely be around for the Bucks at pick #42, but I’m not so sure they’ll need another small forward with Mbah a Moute, Tobias Harris and Delfino all potentially coming back.

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This Sunday marks the start of the Bucks’ pre-draft workouts. Currently holding the 12th and 42nd picks in the 2012 draft, these workouts give the Bucks a chance to look at potential draftees.

Over the past week, Gery Woelfel (@GeryWoelfel) of the Racine Journal Times tweeted the names of five players expected to participate in a pre-draft Sunday workout for the Bucks.  Here’s some background info on those five:

Darius Johnson-Odom
Position: Shooting Guard
College: Marquette
Height: 6’2
Weight: 214 pounds
2011-12 Stats: 18.3 ppg, 2.7 apg, 3.5 rpg, 0.9 spg
Projected Draft Position: Mid-second round
Analysis: Johnson-Odom is a strong, lightning quick two guard. He is an instinctive scorer and has great touch around the rim. He will likely be available for the Bucks at pick #42. Johnson-Odom could be an explosive guy off the bench backing up Monta Ellis.

Jared Cunningham
Position: Shooting Guard
College: Oregon State
Height: 6’4
Weight: 194 pounds
2011-12 Stats: 17.9 ppg, 2.8 apg, 3.8 rpg, 2.5 spg
Projected Draft Position: Early-mid second round
Analysis: Cunningham is solid combo guard who is a play maker on both ends of the floor. He’s quick off the dribble and good off the ball. This is another guy who could end up being a hustle guy off the bench. Could easily fall to the Bucks at pick #42.

Tony Wroten
Position: Point/Shooting Guard
College: Washington
Height: 6’6
Weight: 204 pounds
2011-12 Stats: 16.0 ppg, 3.7 apg, 5.0 rpg, 1.9 spg
Projected Draft Position: Late first rounder
Analysis: Wroten is a creative passer and scorer. He has a knack for finding his way to the basket. Wroten lacks consistency and good decision making. He could develop into a very good starting two guard. Would be a reach at #12 and very likely won’t fall to #42.

Jordan Taylor
Position: Point Guard
College: Wisconsin
Height: 6’0
Weight: 191 pounds
2011-12 Stats: 14.8 ppg, 4.1 apg, 3.8 rpg, 1.0 spg
Projected Draft Position: Undrafted
Analysis: Taylor is a very efficient player-proven by holding the NCAA’s all time assist to turnover ratio record. He is a good outside shooter, but often disappears in games. Would be quite a reach at pick #42, unless the Bucks traded down or really liked what they saw.

Charlie Westbrook
Position: Shooting Guard
College: South Dakota
Height: 6’4
Weight: 196 pounds
2011-12 Stats: 18.7 ppg, 2.2 apg, 4.0 rpg, 1.7 spg
Projected Draft Position: Undrafted
Analysis: Westbrook is a athletic combo two guard and a Wisconsin native. He didn’t face great competition in college. Would also be a reach at pick #42.

Looking at this list of players, it is pretty obvious the Bucks are looking at guards who will likely be around at pick #42. It’s a common thought that the Bucks will draft a big man at #12 and a guard at #42.

If you asked me today which one of these guys the Bucks would pick at #42, I’d go with either Darius Johnson-Odom or Jared Cunningham. Both of these guys have the potential to be immediate contributors and to develop into great scorers.

The guard spot is an area that will need to be looked at this offseason with Carlos Delfino becoming a free agent (and likely Shaun Livingston, too, if the Bucks turn down his team option). The Bucks are looking at potential options to address that hole in this first workout.