Wisconsin Herd: Reactions to 2021 NBA G-League Draft selections

The Wisconsin Herd will be making their return to action this coming season, and they just moved an inch closer following the 2021 NBA G-League Draft.

Looking to revamp their roster, they would have two picks to utilize, and they certainly made a pair of interesting choices. They used their first pick on Keaton Wallace at ninth in the second round and Jaylen Bland with the ninth pick in the third round. Both players were solid choices, but what do they each bring to the table for the Herd?

Thoughts on the Wisconsin Herd selecting Keaton Wallace and Jaylen Bland in the G-League Draft

Wallace is certainly the more interesting of the two. Wallace attended UTSA for four collegiate seasons, where he currently resides at the second-highest scorer in team history. Across 125 games with the Roadrunners, Wallace averaged 16.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 2.8 assists. The guard is a solid scorer, which he showed signs of during his brief stint with the Memphis Grizzlies in the Summer League. In his debut with the Grizzlies, Wallace finished with 20 points, shooting 8-of-15 from the floor, including 4-of-7 from deep. He should bring some scoring into the mix for the Herd.

While Wallace provides some youth at 22-years-old, Bland will come in with more experience under his belt. The guard is 28-years-old and has played in the G-League and in Canada over the years. During his three-year,  stay at college with Murray State and UC-Riverside, he averaged 13.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game. Bland earned a second-team All-NBL Canada selection previously, having made a name for himself in that league. Having an experienced player like Bland in the fold alongside the younger pieces will be a good move for the Herd as they look to get up and running once again.

What these two have in common is that they are both point guards, something the Herd has been known for recently. Of course, Frank Mason III won G-League MVP honors while playing for them in the 2019-20 season after he put together a sensational season. Not only did the Herd have the league’s MVP, but they also had the runner-up in Jaylen Adams. Those two were a lethal tandem, but with both players playing elsewhere at the moment, the team will be looking to fill the void in the backcourt and rekindle some of that magic. While it remains to be seen whether or not Wallace and Bland can be perennial MVP candidates, both players boast a résumé that suggests they can carve out a role quickly for themselves in this new setting.

The return of the Herd will be incredibly important for the Milwaukee Bucks, and these two will be part of the team’s newest chapter. They will join two longtime Herd veterans in Rayjon Tucker and Jemerrio Jones, who highlight the additions this offseason. Big man Sandro Mamukelashvili and Justin Robinson, Milwaukee’s two-way players, will also get some playing time with the Herd this coming season, and including the two recently drafted players, this team is shaping up to be solid. Be sure to keep an eye on the Herd.

For now, welcome to Wisconsin, Keaton and Jaylen!