Roundtable: How the Milwaukee Bucks can improve this NBA offseason
By Dalton Sell
No. 4 – The Milwaukee Bucks hold the 24th overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. Which player do you think they should realistically be targeting and why?
Sell: It feels weird to say that the Milwaukee Bucks are actually set to make a pick in the first round, given that they have not done so in several years. This could be a good opportunity for them to add an impact player while also injecting youth into this roster, and the pick for them could be E.J. Liddell. The 21-year-old just finished up his junior year at Ohio State, and though some analysts have questions about whether his game will translate to the next level, Liddell brings plenty of potential to the table on both ends. Standing at 6-foot-7, 240lbs, the hulking forward could also potentially be the small ball four that the Milwaukee Bucks must add this coming offseason.
Furlong: I’ve been banging the E.J. Liddell drum for a while and he’s becoming a popular pick among Bucks fans. I’m still on that train but I’ll offer an alternative if Liddell is gone: Kendall Brown from Baylor. While it would be a lot of fun if his teammate Jeremy Sochan fell to number 24, Brown offers good size (6-foot-8, 205 pounds) and is incredibly athletic. He’s a great defender and finisher around the rim while his 3-point shot is still developing. He’s young and might not make an impact right away in the playoffs but he’d be a great swing to take for his upside.
Griffith: The 24th pick for Milwaukee will depend on a lot of things. It starts with who is available, and some people see pretty good players slipping to us. I have had my sights set on the various wing players that will likely be available, but I still would like to see Milwaukee take Christian Braun from Kansas. I feel like this guy is going to be an instant rotation piece for whatever team drafts him. Braun’s versatility would fit in nicely with the Bucks.
Schickert: Bryce McGowans, as a Badger fan seeing him play for Nebraska McGowans caught my eye. Bryce McGowans has good size at 6’7 to play the 2 or 3 or even 4 in a small ball lineup. In his lone year at Nebraska he averaged 16.8 points and 5.2 rebounds and was named to the Big 10 All-Freshman team. Imagining McGowans putting on muscle the way Giannis has in his time makes for a potentially imposing wing.
Zippan: As mentioned previously, If available in the draft at #24, the Bucks should pick E.J. Liddell. He would instantly fit their needs and would be the best player available. He is a 6’7” wing player that is strong, can defend and occasionally hit shots, which he has improved on his last season in college at Ohio State. He plays a similar style to Grant Williams and would fill the loss of PJ Tucker, who the Bucks missed desperately this past season.
Foley: I always struggle with drafts. It’s not something we do in the UK and there’s not masses of coverage regarding the College basketball scene. I’ve done a bit of digging when I can and I like the look of E.J. Liddell. A Power Forward who can play the 4 or a small ball 5, he’s put up pretty decent numbers and is versatile. Seems to have the qualities to fit in to the Bucks roster and get some minutes in the process.
Valind: A name that I don’t see a lot of people talking about that I like is Walker Kessler from Auburn. I think that the reason why not too many people are as high on Kessler as I am is because he will probably be more of a project pick, rather than a player that’s ready right away. The biggest reason why I would like Kessler with the Bucks is because I feel that he will be an easy center to transition to once the Brook Lopez era comes to an end in Milwaukee. Kessler is coming off of a season where he was the NCAA’s Naismith Defensive Player of the Year averaging over 4 blocks per game. The concern with Kessler will probably be his lack of a perimeter shot. However, he will have time to work on those skills as he sits behind veterans such as Bobby Portis and Brook Lopez early on in his career.
Marzion: I love Jalen Williams out of Santa Clara. He’s long and athletic and can do a lot… Great shooter, good ball handler, good passer, and very smooth player. I feel like he has a high floor and can contribute right away, but also has a very high ceiling and could become a really good player down the road. I think he will be the steal of this draft.