NBA Draft 2018 Prospect Watch: Elie Okobo
By Adam McGee
Fit with the Bucks
If the playoffs taught the Bucks anything, it’s that they still have questions to answer about the franchise’s long-term direction at point guard.
After a strong regular season, Eric Bledsoe fell flat in the postseason and faces a significant pay day in free agency next summer, and while Malcolm Brogdon has proven to be a solid option at that position, there’s reason to believe he may still be better utilized at shooting guard.
With that in mind, it would be no real surprise if the Bucks were to draft a point guard this summer, and they’d be hard pushed to find a better option than Okobo.
Okobo’s combination of size, strength and atleticism makes him a natural fit for Milwaukee’s roster, but from a skills perspective, there’s plenty to like about the fit too.
One of the most reliable elements of Okobo’s game at present is his shooting, opening up the possibility for him to thrive off the ball at a higher level. In saying that, Okobo also excels in creating for himself out of the pick-and-roll and offers the kind of dynamic change of speed that the Bucks have often appeared to need at the point guard spot.
With some intriguing defensive tools to work with too, Okobo is a prospect capable of developing into the kind of all-around guard who could be a key member of Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s supporting cast in the long-term, and his play in France does nothing to indicate he couldn’t help in a backup capacity even sooner.
Even more interesting, judging from comments Okobo made to ESPN’s Jonathan Givony after he declared for this year’s draft, it appears Mike Budenholzer and his coaching staff could make for an ideal match for Okobo too.
"“I hope to land with a team that is serious about player development that will help me to continue improving my skills.”"
Okobo has a very tangible skill-set that the Bucks, or any other team, can trust in when draft night comes along, but he also comes with the potential to be even greater.
Next: NBA Draft 2018 Prospect Watch: Josh Okogie
He’s not going to be in the discussion in this regard on draft night, but Okobo certainly has the potential to be the best point guard in this class over time. If a player like that is available at 17, the Bucks should be advised to take them.