Ranking the top 5 draft prospects for Milwaukee Bucks with 24th pick

As of now, the Milwaukee Bucks are heading into the 2022 NBA Draft with the 24th overall selection. If the organization decides to maintain the pick, it’ll be the first time the Bucks have kept its first-round pick since drafting Donte DiVincenzo with the 17th overall selection in 2018.

Milwaukee is coming off a second-round postseason loss to the Boston Celtics after claiming its first NBA Championship since 1971 the year beforehand. Although, the Bucks can’t overreact to the seven-game playoff loss when reconstructing the team this offseason.

If we’re being honest, the Bucks most likely would have repeated as NBA champions if Khris Middleton was healthy. There will always be “what-ifs” in the postseason and Milwaukee was clearly unlucky this past year, but they should feel confident about running it back with the same core entering the 2022-23 season.

With bona fide superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo and All-Star talents Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday set to return on contract next season, Milwaukee’s offseason should be dedicated toward enhancing the supporting cast. While retaining Bobby Portis and Pat Connaughton will be priorities, using the 24th pick in the draft could be a key opportunity to add a reliable rotation piece for both the present and long-term future.

As the Milwaukee Bucks hold the 24th overall pick in the upcoming 2022 NBA Draft, we rank the top five realistic prospects that would be an ideal fit.

Before we dive into the top prospects for the Milwaukee Bucks in this draft, we must acknowledge that some prospects are unrealistic candidates in the back end of the first round at the 24th selection. For example, the Bucks aren’t drafting projected No. 1 pick Jabari Smith.

Other top-tier prospects that would fit well with the Bucks such as Dyson Daniels, Johnny Davis, Ochai Agbaji, and TyTy Washington Jr. likely won’t be available at 24 and therefore won’t be included in this piece. Milwaukee certainly doesn’t have the assets to trade up in the draft, so don’t expect them to make any major leap on the night of June 23rd.

There’s still a strong possibility that the Bucks could trade their first-round pick in a package that returns a veteran role player or offloads an unwanted contract, but Milwaukee should be motivated to keep it in this deep pool of intriguing prospects. Without further ado, let’s rank the top five realistic targets for the Milwaukee Bucks with the 24th pick in the 2022 NBA Draft.

Ranking the top 5 draft prospects for Milwaukee Bucks with 24th pick

5. Marjon Beauchamp

Pre-Draft Team: G League Ignite

Position: Shooting Guard

Height: 6’7″

Marjon Beauchamp is a versatile, high motor wing with promising attributes on both sides of the ball. The 21-year-old has tremendous athleticism, explosiveness, and versatility that complements his style of play.

Defensively is where Beauchamp should become a difference-maker in the league for a long period of time as a wing. With his physicality and reported 7-foot wingspan, he possesses the tools needed to be a versatile and reliable asset when defending on and off the ball. His quick feet and stability allow him to defend well on the ball while his length and awareness give him the opportunity to excel off the ball as a help defender and affect shots whether on the perimeter or near the basket. He’s also an elite rebounder for his size.

On the offensive end, Beauchamp is a terrific finisher around the rim, productive slasher and cutter, and crafty scorer. The G League Ignite product isn’t an efficient shooter from beyond the arc, but the shooting mechanics are there. Despite inconsistency, Beauchamp’s creativity and ability to score on all three levels gives him exciting upside offensively.

Every team needs wing depth, and Marjon Beauchamp would be a skillful wing that could benefit the Milwaukee Bucks as a versatile defensive pogo stick that can guard 1-3 and bring creative tangibles offensively with room to grow. Beauchamp would fit into the defensive identity, excelling transition offense, and energetic and hardworking culture of this title-contending Bucks squad.

Ranking the top 5 draft prospects for Milwaukee Bucks with 24th pick

4. Trevor Keels

School: Duke

Position: Small Forward

Height: 6’5″

As a 19-year-old prospect with NBA-ready strength, physicality, and a two-way spark, Trevor Keels would be a buzzing addition to the Milwaukee Bucks. Keels has decided to keep his name in the 2022 NBA Draft and projects to be a late first-round pick.

The Duke product has a strong frame similar to Oklahoma City’s Luguentz Dort. While he won’t be as effective as Dort on the defensive end, Keels has the lateral quickness, versatility, and rock solid body to become a menace defensively. He’s a hard-nosed combo guard that competes with aggressiveness and a tough mentality that the Bucks should value.

Keels has a diverse skill set offensively as well. He’s an accountable ball-handler, creative playmaker off isolations and screens, and has the ability to score from all angles on the court. He wasn’t an efficient shooter in college, but has proper shooting mechanics and uses his body well to penetrate toward the rim.

The Bucks could have used another switchable wing and decisive playmaker during these past playoffs, and Trevor Keels perfectly fits that description. Milwaukee could utilize Keels in a variety of different ways on both ends of the floor as an impact player that’s capable of defending multiple positions and can spread the floor, initiate the pick and roll, and take care of all the little things that would complement the Bucks’ star trio.

Ranking the top 5 draft prospects for Milwaukee Bucks with 24th pick

3. Jalen Williams

School: Santa Clara

Position: Shooting Guard

Height: 6’6″

Jalen Williams has a silky-smooth scoring ability that should eventually carve out a consistent role for him in the league. His playmaking as an ambidextrous ball-handler will also help make him a legitimate offensive threat for years to come. Williams averaged 18.0 points and 4.2 assists per game while shooting 51.3 percent from the field and 39.6 percent from behind the arc last season with Santa Clara.

He’s an efficient shooter with nice touch and an impressive offensive skill set. However, the defensive end will be the wild card throughout his career at the NBA level. The 21-year-old projects to hold his own as an on-ball perimeter defender but could struggle defending stronger, more physical players. If the Bucks invest in him, they would be betting on his brilliant offensive abilities outweighing the lack of impact defensively.

Milwaukee would mostly plug Williams in as a handler in pick and roll situations and utilize him in similar spots that Khris Middleton would be offensively. He’d be able to get open looks, especially if Giannis Antetokounmpo is the one attracting the attention away from him by setting the screens, and he’s persistent at finding a rhythm and knocking down shots at all three levels. He’s intelligent at reading the defense and also serves as a threat off the ball as a catch-and-shoot sniper.

It’s important to note that the Bucks brought Jalen Williams in for an in-person workout earlier this month, so there’s clearly interest in his smooth and athletic ability. It wouldn’t be a surprise if Williams was off the board before the Bucks make their pick but if he’s available, his complementary package and high ceiling offensively could make him a steal at the 24th pick.

Ranking the top 5 draft prospects for Milwaukee Bucks with 24th pick

2. Dalen Terry

School: Arizona

Position: Point Guard

Height: 6’7″

Dalen Terry is a rising draft prospect with flashy athleticism and excellent playmaking ability for a lengthy guard. The 20-year-old played point guard in college at Arizona, but his versatility and 7-foot wingspan will allow him to be treated as a wing too while giving him tremendous upside on the defensive end.

Terry has outstanding vision and feel with the ball in his hands, especially in pick and roll situations. His jump shot still needs improvement but he’s capable of scoring at an efficient rate any given night. Even though consistency will be a gradual progression offensively, Terry has the two-way skill set to immediately earn meaningful minutes at the next level.

While his physical abilities should attract the Bucks, his contagious personality, high IQ, strong work ethic, and goal-oriented mentality would be a perfect fit in Milwaukee. The Bucks have a hole to fill at backup point guard with an aging George Hill, and Terry would be an electric addition as a young, energetic, and versatile contributor that could produce right away.

Dalen Terry’s creative playmaking, explosiveness in transition, intelligent decision-making and awareness, and ability to defend multiple positions with his long frame and intimidating length would combine to provide a lighting spark to the Milwaukee Bucks moving forward.

Ranking the top 5 draft prospects for Milwaukee Bucks with 24th pick

1. E.J. Liddell

School: Ohio State

Position: Power Forward

Height: 6’7″

The most realistic top draft prospect for the Milwaukee Bucks to target in the late stage of the first round is Ohio State’s E.J. Liddell, a two-way forward with the ideal package for the modern NBA. Liddell won’t become a star in the league despite being a star in college, but he’ll be one of those guys that should become an absolute star in his role.

Offensively, the 21-year-old can efficiently score at all three levels whether it’s raining threes, knocking down mid-range shots, or finishing around the rim with craftiness and smooth shooting mechanics. On the defensive side of the ball, Liddell uses his strength, athleticism, and high IQ to disrupt plays, block shots, and protect the paint while rebounding at an impressive rate for his lack of height at his position.

Even though the versatile forward plays at power forward like the two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, he’d immediately be a productive asset off the bench as a floor spacer, hard screener, and reactive passer while doing the dirty work as a physical defensive beast that could also unlock essential small-ball lineups for the Bucks. Liddell would be more than a swiss army knife at the forward position.

Imagine a taller P.J. Tucker with a hint of Draymond Green that can shoot the ball at an efficient rate. That’s how valuable E.J. Liddell could turn out to be, a true star in his role. He’s NBA-ready and someone that could see key postseason minutes for a title-contender as a rookie.

Drafting E.J. Liddell with the 24th overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft would be the ultimate prize for the Milwaukee Bucks as they prepare to strengthen the supporting cast this offseason. Stay tuned for more coverage on the draft in these coming weeks.