It was expected to be a rather quiet night for the Milwaukee Bucks, who held just the final pick of the night in the 2023 NBA Draft.
However, things quickly got interesting as they made a draft day trade with the Orlando Magic to acquire the 36th overall pick while also keeping 58. In addition to their selections, the Bucks also latched onto a pair of interesting undrafted free agents. While nothing seismic took place, it was a good night for the Bucks, as they added some exciting young pieces. With that said, let us look at a trio of takeaways from Milwaukee’s draft night haul.
No 1. – The Milwaukee Bucks clearly wanted more experienced prospects who may be NBA ready
Excluding Chris Livingston, who the Bucks took with their final pick, every other player Milwaukee added played at least three years collegiately. Andre Jackson Jr. played three years at UConn, while Omari Moore and Drew Timme each played four years at their respective colleges. There’s a major reason why the Bucks specifically went after players like this as they look to shape their roster for next year and beyond.
Milwaukee going after more seasoned collegiate players signals that they are of the mindset that they could possibly make an impact sooner rather than later. There’s a notion that those who play collegiately for three or four years bring more experience and translate faster to the league due to their added time at the college level. It’s not always the case, as not every player who fits the mold is destined to pan out, but it seems like the Bucks think these picks could help them out.
Rather than developing projects, the Bucks clearly wanted to bring in some pieces who could be of use quickly next season if Coach Adrian Griffin calls their name.