As the Milwaukee Bucks prepare for November’s NBA Draft, they desperately need to find success with the 24th overall pick.
The Milwaukee Bucks‘ draft record over the past 10 years or so has been incredibly spotty, to say the least.
Sure, taking Giannis Antetokounmpo 15th overall in 2013 allows plenty of past mistakes to be forgiven, but as the Bucks focus on building a roster that will convince Antetokounmpo to remain long-term, the pain of so many poor decisions in the draft is felt more keenly now than ever before.
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The Bucks have had five first round picks since landing Antetokounmpo, and to say they’ve failed to make the most of them would be a colossal understatement.
Taking Jabari Parker second overall may be the most costly of those errors in hindsight, but the injuries that changed the course of his career do spare the Bucks some element of the responsibility for that outcome.
The same can’t be said for the picks that were used on Rashad Vaughn, Thon Maker, and D.J. Wilson, though – all of which could undoubtedly have been used to pick players who could have been meaningful contributors and potential difference-makers in the Bucks’ two most recent playoff runs.
The evidence of this is in the continuing importance of Donte DiVincenzo to the Bucks’ present and future. DiVincenzo had his fair share of struggles in the bubble in Orlando, but as he found his form for the final three games of the Bucks’ playoff run, it was instantly apparent just how important he was to their rotation.
When push came to shove, the Bucks found they didn’t have as many playable contributors as their opponents, the Heat. To improve on that in future, drafting well will be essential.
Given the cap restraints the Bucks are operating under, using veteran minimums to fill out their roster can leave them with older, more limited players. That was the case in the postseason, and the downsides of that were well and truly exposed.
From Tyler Herro to Luguentz Dort, there’s been no shortage of rookies, and young players generally beyond them, who’ve shown the ability to step up and contribute in these playoffs.
The Bucks would certainly be in a much better spot if they had a player of their own that fits that mold by the time the postseason rolls back around next year.
But taking the longer view into consideration too, the Bucks’ core around Giannis is far from the youngest either. If he does opt to stay, at some point they’ll need to start transitioning to a younger supporting cast. For that to be possible, the Bucks will either have to strike gold and find a star or two in the middle of the first round again, or they’ll have to at least draft serviceable young players who can be packaged for higher profile assets down the line.
The Bucks have neglected the draft in recent years, largely treating their picks as little more than a means to move on from bad contracts. That has to change now, and it has to be accompanied by impactful selections too.
The fact that Milwaukee won’t have its full slate of draft picks in the years to come only makes each selection all the more important. If the Bucks keep the 24th overall pick they received from the Indiana Pacers, and they should, they will then need to make it count.