7 Worthwhile trade up targets for the Milwaukee Bucks in 2023 NBA Draft

Milwaukee Bucks target: Maxwell Lewis (Wing – Pepperdine)

Height: 6’7″ / Weight: 205 lbs / Wingspan: 7’0″

Jalen Williams was one of the best rookies in the NBA last season, and Maxwell Lewis reminds me a lot of him. He has awesome scoring and shooting ability combined with great physical tools, athleticism, and length. He can hit threes off the catch, get into the midrange off the dribble, and shoot over defenders with his length. He also has all the tools to be a good defender, though that is not his greatest strength right now. Overall, he seems to have a high floor with his physical tools and shooting ability, but he also could have a higher ceiling with his off-the-dribble scoring and defensive potential. He’d be a very intriguing prospect for the Bucks to trade up for to add scoring, shooting, length, and athleticism.

Milwaukee Bucks target: Julian Phillips (Wing – Tennessee)

Height: 6’8″ / Weight: 195 lbs / Wingspan: 6’11”

Had to finish this list off with yet another athletic wing defender, because the Bucks definitely could use one. Julian Phillips has a similar profile to the other wing defender prospects already mentioned… he has great length, he’s athletic, he is NBA-ready defensively, he’s good in transition and as a cutter offensively, and shooting will be the thing that determines just how great of a role player he can be. He did not shoot well from three this past season, but he did shoot well on free throws and was a good shooter in high school, which are usually good signs. For the Bucks, he would fill the wing defense need right away, and they would need to bet on his shot panning out. Phillips is one of several NBA-ready defenders in the 25-45 range of the draft that the Bucks could look to move up and acquire.

Stay tuned for more analysis and 2023 NBA Draft talk.