The Buck Stops Here Roundtable #2: Draft Reactions, Free Agency Expectations

What were your initial reactions to the Bucks selections on draft night? Have your thoughts changed over the past week?

Tom Pheister (@BucksPhanTom): Initially, I was a little surprised to see Thon Maker drafted at 10. I had seen reports linking him to the Bucks in the last week or two leading up to the draft, so I wasn’t completely blindsided by it, but, at least according to draft projections, Thon was a bit of a reach at 10.

My surprise at the pick quickly turned into surprise at my surprise though. Of course they picked Thon Maker at 10! What else would the Bucks do? Conventional wisdom? I spit upon thee! For I am the Bucks!

Honestly, though, I really like the pick. I see it as the Bucks daring to be great. It may not work, but I love that they are willing to take the chance. If Thon comes anywhere close to what he could be, I believe the Bucks will be NBA champions sometime fairly soon.

Adam McGee (@AdamMcGee11): Initial reaction was complete shock and disbelief. That was because it came about so suddenly more than anything else. I don’t think having spent months of tracking mock drafts and listening to who the Bucks were reportedly interested in, that any of us were prepared for a new name to emerge as Thon Maker’s did in the final couple of hours before the draft.

I wouldn’t say my opinion on his game has changed in the past week, I’m still going to treat it as if he’s two years away from being competent, but hearing him speak and learning more about him as a person has certainly won me over on the team’s thought process for the pick.

At this point, there’s only one thing that’s making me wish they’d picked someone else. I’ve already had enough of all of the sleuths and “truthers” who’ve taken a break from disproving the moon landing, developing theories on lizard people and searching for aliens, to hone in on Thon Maker’s age.

Brogdon is the flip side of the coin in terms of risk. He was the safe, sensible choice at 36. I loved it at the time, nothing has changed that since.

I’m happy with both picks now, I just wish some of the other nonsense would go away.

Ti Windisch (@TiWindisch): The Thon Maker pick floored me. I remember messaging Adam on draft night in disbelief after both Chad Ford and Jonathan Givony changed their mocks to have Thon going to the Bucks at 10th overall. I was honestly in denial even after Adrian Wojnarowski tweeted the pick–until I heard the commissioner say it, I wasn’t sure this was real life.

I was devastated that the Bucks made such a huge reach by taking him initially, but now I’ve come to terms with it. If Thon works out, the pick is a masterpiece. If not, the Bucks will be okay. They don’t need him to become this supposedly revolutionary dude to be a good team down the line.

And of course the Malcolm Brogdon pick was great–he’s the absolute perfect player for this team right now. His leadership, shooting stroke and defense will all help Milwaukee a ton going forward.

Jordan Treske (@JordanTreske): Like everyone else, I was flabbergasted by the Thon Maker pick. Like Adam and Ti said, the draft had already started when both Givony and Ford put Maker at 10 and that was enough to make me start worrying that they knew something.

However, in the days since the draft, I’ve been more at peace with it. His character and his work ethic have really left me impressed and while we don’t really have an idea of what kind of player he’ll eventually become, seeing that he’s hungry to find his place in the NBA is very encouraging.

With Brogdon, I think a lot of the same things that apply with Maker apply with Brogdon as well.

Obviously you like the things he brings on the court as a potential three-and-D player off the bench, but his focus and leadership are very apparent in the interviews that he’s had since the draft.

John Heffernon (@Silky__Johnson_): Initial reaction for Thon was confusion. Why pick someone who could feasibly be selected in the second round? The truth is this age issue could have worked in the Bucks favor. With multiple teams taking Thon off of their boards, maybe the Bucks could have gotten him in the second or traded back into the late first round?

Initial reaction for Malcolm was that it’s a great pick. 6’5 guard with a 6’11” wingspan and a solid three-and-D player. I hope Khris Middleton takes this kid under his wing.

Currently I’m trying to warm up to the Thon pick. He was Milwaukee’s guy and has some crazy upside. If it works out it’s a home run. If not, it doesn’t negatively impact our core.

Currently my thoughts on Malcolm have not changed at all. Still very happy about the 36th pick!

Tim Wray (@TRW24): Taking Thon Maker with the 10th pick was, to say the least, a massive shock.

During the draft I was aware that Draft Express and ESPN had updated their mocks and placed Thon Maker at 10, but I was still hesitant to believe that it was a distinct possibility. Then Marc Stein and Adrian Wojnarowski tweeted that Milwaukee were going to take him and my initial reactions were those of mixed emotions.

On one hand, I was extremely disappointed that the Bucks had reached so far with this pick. As I said last week, I thought Thon Maker would go in the mid-late first round at the earliest. This was also compounded by the fact that I was fairly high on a number of prospects who were still available and certainly more NBA ready.

On the other hand, It was great to see another Australian picked in the draft, especially someone who has overcome his fair share of obstacles on his journey to the NBA.

Since the draft, I’ve come around a lot. As Adam and Jordan have said, after hearing him speak and listening to what John Hammond and Jason Kidd have had to say about him, you can’t help but be impressed with how he carries himself as a person. Further, his willingness to put the work in and develop his game is very promising and makes me believe that he could be an integral piece of the Bucks future.

As for selecting Malcolm Brogdon with the 36th pick, I love it.

I think Ti said it best, Brogdon’s perimeter defense, three-point shooting and leadership is exactly what Milwaukee needs. He’s a perfect fit and should be a valuable addition to the rotation, ready to contribute from day one.

Next: Expectations for Thon Maker?