Behind the Bucks Pass
Fansided

Milwaukee Bucks: 2019 NBA Draft primer and predictions

By Scott Romportl

NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 21: Donte DiVincenzo poses with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver after being drafted 17th overall by the Milwaukee Bucks during the 2018 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center on June 21, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 21: Donte DiVincenzo poses with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver after being drafted 17th overall by the Milwaukee Bucks during the 2018 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center on June 21, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 3
Next
COLUMBUS, OHIO – MARCH 22: (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OHIO – MARCH 22: (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

Who’ll be available and what will the Bucks be looking for?

Who (likely) won’t be available?

The first order of business for focusing on what Jon Horst may ultimately do is setting aside prospects who likely won’t be available at pick No. 30.

Again, we are dealing with assumptions that have no validity until draft night, and areas such as medical red flags and major character concerns that aren’t made available to the public usually end up dropping a player or two down considerably.

Nonetheless, here is a list of 18 prospects that will more than likely NOT be available when the Bucks are on the clock at pick 30:

Zion Williamson (Duke), Ja Morant (Murray St.), RJ Barrett (Duke), Jarrett Culver (Texas Tech), DeAndre Hunter (Virginia Tech), Darius Garland (Vanderbilt), Coby White (North Carolina), Jaxson Hayes (Texas), Nassir Little (North Carolina), Brandon Clarke (Gonzaga), Romeo Langford (Indiana), Sekou Doumbouya (Limoges – international), Rui Hachimura (Gonzaga), Cam Reddish (Duke), PJ Washington (Kentucky), Kevin Porter Jr. (Southern California), Goga Bitadze (Mega -international), Tyler Herro (Kentucky).

What might the Bucks target?

It’s probably safe to say that with the 30th pick, the Bucks will be targeting skill set over a specific position on the floor.

While the impending free agency period will answer plenty of questions regarding roster construction, it makes little sense, especially at 30, to draft for positional need if other prospects rate out higher. Furthermore, with the draft being conducted before free agency, why target a player in a draft based on positional need, when you have three more months to potentially fill any perceived holes using other means (despite a little less cap flexibility this offseason)?

There are three skill sets that Jon Horst may be ultimately looking for. In the most basic terms, these are 1) Guards that can pass, dribble, and shoot, 2) Wings with athleticism, defensive versatility, and a 3-point shot profile, and 3) Bigs with some combination of floor stretching or rim running on one end with defensive switch-ability or rim protection on the other.

For a quick and simple look at the 26 potential prospects that the Bucks may have their eye on at pick 30, the chart linked here breaks down which players in each category hold these basic skills.

Deeper analysis on the players in this range have been also highlighted by the rest of the team at the site (all of our draft coverage can be found here), and are well worth your time to discern NBA projection and the potential fit of various players with the Bucks.

Home/Bucks Draft