Milwaukee Bucks: Patrick Williams stands as unfinished NBA Draft target

Fit with the Bucks

Going off of our previous entries looking at 2020 NBA Draft prospects, I’m not sure there is a draft hopeful that is in the realm of Williams’ clear raw potential and overall development.

Again, that’s certainly informed by the role he played in his lone season at the collegiate level, but we’ve now reached uncharted territory with Williams’ unfinished skill set potentially in play at either the 19th or 20th pick where the Bucks’ pick stands via the Indiana Pacers. That certainly doesn’t include his defensive mindset and aptitude, which will almost certainly be his calling card at the next level.

But sifting through the two drafts that Bucks general manager Jon Horst has overseen, last year being the exception, we haven’t seen him really identify and target athletic projects with unclear or developing offensive skill sets.

Of course, the counter to that would be D.J. Wilson, whom Horst selected with the 17th overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, and Wilson’s career has panned out as a shaky shooting, promising defensive forward, something that Williams clearly resembles right now.

Williams’ defensive potential aside, the Seminole’s underdeveloped offensive skill package seems like a tough sell in terms of how Horst has historically viewed the draft and as he looks to add translatable talent while maintaining this current title window.

That isn’t to ignore Williams’ upside and he does fill a potential position of need, especially with the questions surrounding Ersan Ilyasova‘s $7 million guarantee and Marvin Williams entering the open market again and potentially debating retirement.

But with this being one of the Bucks’ few remaining draft assets of note, the developmental project that Williams looks to be may be too big of a risk with a limited reward for a Bucks team that is hanging on the decision of superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo