5 offseason needs for the Milwaukee Bucks following 2022 NBA Draft
By Dalton Sell
By all accounts, the Milwaukee Bucks had a solid outing in the 2022 NBA Draft.
With the 24th overall selection, they selected MarJon Beauchamp of the G-League Ignite, and he seems like a player that can come in and contribute immediately. That was set to be the only pick of the night for the Bucks before they acquired the 58th pick from the Indiana Pacers, which they used to select shooting guard Hugo Besson. The team bulked up their guard depth even further by bringing in both Iverson Molinar and AJ Green once the draft had concluded.
With these four new additions, the Bucks have bolstered their guard and wing depth, which were among the areas that the roster needed addressing. However, General Manager Jon Horst and the front office have more work to do following the draft, as there are still several glaring flaws on this Milwaukee team that will have to be dealt with via free agency or trade. With all of that being said, let us look at five of them.
No. 1 – The Milwaukee Bucks need to add more 3-point shooting
After shooting a grueling 32.7 percent from 3-point range in the 2022 NBA Playoffs, it is clear that the Milwaukee Bucks need to add more 3-point shooting this offseason. They did not address that need in the draft, as aside from Hugo Besson, who will be stashed away, according to Eric Nehm of the Athletic and AJ Green, who likely will not see much playing time next year, none of the other players they picked up are known as marksmen. Surrounding Giannis Antetokounmpo with reliable perimeter shooters has always been pivotal in this Mike Budenholzer offense, and the front office will have to target more of it through free agency or trades. Luckily for the Bucks, there will be plenty of targets worth pursuing via both avenues.
Looking through free agency first, the Bucks will not have too much spending money to utilize, but there are several household names that would be worth considering. If the front office is seeking a low-cost option, two players that could be worthwhile are Ben McLemore and Wayne Ellington, who have both made a living in this league as long range shooters, having shot above 36 percent from three in their careers. If they are looking for some familiarity, as Jon Horst tends to do when constructing these rosters, one feasible option is Bryn Forbes. Of course, Forbes was a key piece on Milwaukee’s 2021 title team due to his prolific 3-point shooting, and bringing him back would make sense, especially given his chemistry with the team’s core.
Things will get even more challenging for the Bucks when trying to improve through trades, given their lack of desirable assets. However, some notable players that could be within their range are Justin Holiday, Alec Burks, and Royce O’Neale. All three have been quality perimeter shooters that would fit seamlessly on this roster. Among the bunch, Holiday, the older brother of current Bucks guard Jrue Holiday, is likely the most realistic, given his salary and uncertain future as a member of the Sacramento Kings. Holiday has been a reputable shooter throughout his career and would be a fine addition to this Milwaukee bench.
However Jon Horst decides to approach it, the Bucks need more perimeter shooting on this roster, and it will be interesting to see how he tackles the issue.