It was reported Tuesday night that the Milwaukee Bucks, also the Minnesota Timberwolves and Memphis Grizzlies are teams looking to trade up to acquire the Cleveland Cavaliers #14 draft pick in Thursdays NBA Draft, per Michael Scotto of Hoops Hype.
The Milwaukee Bucks currently hold the #24 pick, what would it cost the Milwaukee Bucks to move up 10 spots? Could the Bucks pull off a deal to move up 10 spots? Who would the Bucks select at #14?
What would it cost the Milwaukee Bucks to move up 10 spots?
Naturally, the #24 pick would be involved, but what else could the Milwaukee Bucks offer the Cleveland Cavaliers. It is possible that the Bucks work out to have the qualifying offer on Jordan Nwora accepted and included in the deal, giving Nwora a chance to develop on a young team and giving the Cavaliers a chance to develop a young player with offensive potential.
In previous draft day trade ups, teams have been able to move up significantly in the draft with just cash considerations. The other easy way to move up in the draft is to send second round picks, which the Milwaukee Bucks have five of over the next three years, thanks to two being included in the deal that sent Donte DiVincenzo to the Sacramento Kings.
Could the Milwaukee Bucks pull off a deal to move up 10 spots?
The Cavaliers have expressed openness in moving back in this years draft, albeit to acquire another first round pick, while the Bucks can’t offer another first rounder in addition to #24, the Milwaukee Bucks could offer a package including multiple second round picks or by adding a player to the deal.
It’s certainly within the realm of possibility considering that other teams have moved up in recent years by attaching second round picks to their current pick. The Milwaukee Bucks could offer something like #24, Jordan Nwora and a second round pick to the Cleveland Cavaliers for the #14 pick.
The Cavaliers have been reportedly looking to add depth on the wings, Jordan Nwora could help that situation while also giving the Cavaliers the opportunity to still have a first round pick and pick up an additional second round pick in the process, if they’re not convinced the pick is someone they want to select at 14, moving back would make a lot of sense for the Cavs.
Who would the Milwaukee Bucks target with the 14th pick?
The last question that remains is, who are the Milwaukee Bucks looking to trade up for? Are they targeting someone specific? Are the Bucks just looking to have a better chance to draft a player that falls below their projection? Are they just looking to have a chance at hitting on a best available player?
The names being floated around the #14 pick are Malaki Branham, Ochai Agbaji, Ousmane Dieng, Bennedict Mathurin and Mark Williams. There are some analysts that believe Johnny Davis could fall to pick 14, could a Wisconsin product be staying in state?
Malaki Branham played just one year for Ohio State but shot a blistering 41.6 percent on 3-point attempts. At just 19 years old, the Bucks could draft and develop Branham and integrate him as part of the core of the team for years to come. Branham also has the ability to get to the rim and isn’t afraid of contact. NBADraft.net has Khris Middleton as a player comparison for Branham.
Ochai Agbaji is another wing player that could be available at pick 14 for the Bucks, at 22, he is older than Branham but that could be framed as a positive that Agbaji brings more experience and maturity. Agbaji is a career 37.3 percent 3-point shooter at Kansas where he scored 18.8 points per game as a senior. Agbaji does bring great length to the table as well, something potentially enticing for the Bucks should he be avaiable.
Bennedict Mathurin is yet another lengthy wing, setting a trend and possibly giving the insight of what the Bucks would be looking to get at pick 14 should they be able to acquire it. Mathurin at Arizona last year averaged 17.7 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.5 assists. Mathurin is also a 38.3 percent career 3-point shooter over his two seasons at Arizona.
These are just some of the possible players the Milwaukee Bucks could look to target at the 14th pick should they be able to make a deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The NBA Draft is tomorrow night, we’ll see what pick the Milwaukee Bucks end up selecting at.