Jonathan Givony, ESPN & Ricky O’Donnell, SB Nation: E.J. Liddell, F. Ohio State
I’m grouping these two since they have the Bucks taking the same guy and it’s someone I’d be very happy to come away with if I’m in the front office.
Although E.J. Liddell (6’7″, 6’11” wingspan, 243 pounds) may not have the same upside as Smith being that he’s 21 and coming out of his junior season, he would fill an immediate need and could play in the rotation immediately.
I’ve talked a lot about how the Bucks need more wing depth and specifically to find a “big wing” that can fit into their lineups with Giannis Antetokounmpo at the five. Liddell would hopefully grow into that all-important role but, again, he could be a solid rotation option from Day One.
The biggest thing to note about Liddell is that he really improved his shooting over his three years with the Buckeyes. In his freshman season, he averaged less than one 3-point attempt per game in conference play and shot 21.4 percent. By his junior year, he shot over four 3s per game in 20 Big Ten games and hit 37 percent of them.
ESPN’s Jonathan Givony notes that Liddell is a solid rim protector that can reliably switch on the perimeter as well. SB Nation’s Ricky O’Donnell lists a familiar name in Grant Williams of the Boston Celtics as a potential mold for what Liddell can become if the shooting progression is real. He has a terrific feel on the defensive end whether it be timing blocks or limiting space on pull-up jumpers for guards.
I don’t want to get my hopes up but this would be one of the more ideal outcomes from this draft for the Bucks if they could land Liddell with this pick. His length, strength, and improved shooting make him basically exactly what they need to maximize the Giannis-at-the-five lineups.