Milwaukee Bucks: Get To Know Thon Maker
By Adam McGee
Fit With The Bucks (Immediate and Future)
Early on the morning of the draft, back when the idea of the Bucks drafting Thon Maker with the 10th overall pick still seemed laughable, I was one of four Behind the Buck Pass writers who took part in a roundtable draft discussion.
When the prospect of Maker came up, I was honest (I felt no need to be coy as I didn’t expect him to be a Buck), far from effusive and I shared some thoughts which threaten to become home truths now.
"“I get the hype and the appeal for Maker, but he’s going to need to spend probably an entire season in the D-League. I’m not sure how people can look at him and see anything other than that. Having skipped college, the team he lands with will almost have to artificially give him that extra year to develop. That’s what I find so confusing about how passionate many Bucks fans are about him. Without a D-League team I’d be reluctant to take him at all. Even if the potential is what everyone hopes it is, if you don’t have the right infrastructure in place to develop him, he may never reach those heights anyway.”"
Now that Maker is in fact a Buck, those words still ring true. The ideal fit for Maker on the Bucks at present would likely be on their D-League team, but unfortunately that’s a reality that is still some 12 months away.
Without their own D-League affiliate where the environment is controlled, it’s probably not the best option for him next season. In fact, John Hammond said as much on draft night, intimating that Maker will spend a lot of time with the team, and that he even expects Jason Kidd to find opportunities for the youngster to play, when appropriate.
Considering that, Maker’s fit next season should be irrelevant. His only goal, and the organization’s only hope for him as a rookie, should be to learn. Treat it as his year in college. If he impresses on the court, and finds a real role then that can be re-assessed, but in the meantime there should be no pressure.
The longer term picture is even more interesting. Hammond evaded pinning a position on Maker when asked about where he fits best on Thursday night, but you’d have to feel deep down the Bucks have a very well defined hope for his future.
Considering Maker’s exceptional size and the core pieces the Bucks already have in place, if he could realize his potential as a center, the Milwaukee Bucks could be nigh on impossible to stop.
He should face no pressure to play there, and I’d expect the Bucks to pursue and develop other options in the middle in the interim, but by the time his rookie contract is winding down I’d expect the hope is that Thon Maker will be a center.
Next: Milwaukee Bucks: Get To Know Malcolm Brogdon
Milwaukee certainly gambled in making the high upside pick on Thursday night, but very soon, the order of where he was picked should become less important, and it will become more a question of belief.
The Bucks seem to have unwavering faith in Maker’s ability to succeed, but I’m not sure anyone believes in Thon Maker more than he does himself. In the end, that could be what sets him apart.