Scarcely have the Milwaukee Bucks been known for striking gold when selecting draft picks over the past decade, with 2013 being the most well-known exception.
They have made some puzzling selections over the years, and while it can be torturous to look back and relive those memories, nothing can deter the happiness of Bucks fans right now as they relish in championship glory. Taking a look at every draft in the Giannis Antetokounmpo era, the 2014 NBA Draft certainly had some what-ifs featured throughout, but does the 2015 NBA Draft hold the same star-power?
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The Bucks held the 17th pick heading into the draft, selecting Rashad Vaughn out of UNLV. The move had potential as the team aimed to replenish their guard depth, but Vaugh never quite panned out as he lasted three seasons in the NBA, appearing in brief stints with the Brooklyn Nets and Orlando Magic after leaving Milwaukee.
Vaughn left much to be desired after being taken with the 17th pick, especially with the talent that came after him. With that being said, here are five options for the Bucks in a 2015 NBA redraft.
No. 5 option for Milwaukee Bucks in 2015 NBA redraft — Larry Nance Jr.
Larry Nance Jr. would have been an interesting fit for a Bucks team that was loaded with talent in the frontcourt. In addition to a rising star in Antetokounmpo – who mostly played point guard that season – they had names like Jabari Parker, Greg Monroe, Miles Plumlee, and Johnny O’Bryant on the 2015-16 roster, so minutes may have been tough to come by initially.
However, Nance has quietly developed into one of the more underrated players in the game over the past several years. First off, the big man has become a versatile defender that can handle his own against multiple positions across the board. Having another switchable defender like that in the mix would have been a big boost for an ascending team like the Bucks, particularly if Nance were to get where he is now in the NBA.
Offensively, the big man has never been a reputable scorer, averaging double figures just once in his six-year career. On top of that, 3-point shooting has been among his weakest attributes, as Nance has hit just 33.3 percent of the triples in his career on 1.2 attempts per game. The forward has improved over the past two seasons by knocking down 35.5 percent on three attempts, but the shooting struggles to begin his career would have been an issue next to Antetokounmpo and Monroe, among others.
Bringing Nance in with the 17th selection would have been compelling, to say the least. Instead, he went 27th overall to the Los Angeles Lakers and has had a solid career to this point as a role player for a handful of teams.