After having the oldest roster in the NBA last season, it was clear heading into the off-season that the Milwaukee Bucks needed more youth.
Throughout the draft, free agency, and Summer League, management has done an excellent job of bringing in more young pieces. Although not all of the young players will be able to help the Bucks immediately next season, they all have the potential to make an impact at some point. With all of that said, let us look at the eight 25 and under pieces on the roster and rank them based on their potential to help the Milwaukee Bucks.
Ranking the young Milwaukee Bucks: No. 8 – Drew Timme, 22
The Bucks swiftly signed Drew Timme to an Exhibit-10 contract after he went undrafted in the 2023 NBA Draft. That will give the big man a chance to stick around in Milwaukee if he can take advantage of the opportunity. While Timme comes in last here, there is no denying that he is still a tremendous player who is one of the most accomplished in Gonzaga’s history.
Timme comes in last due to how his skills may translate to the NBA. At Gonzaga, he was a sheer force down in the post, having done essentially all of his work down there. In the modern NBA, a low-post enforcer is rare, especially when they have little athleticism and not much of a passing game. About 15 or 20 years ago, Timme would have skyrocketed higher on draft boards.
For now, Timme will likely stick with the Wisconsin Herd in the G-League, where he can work on his game and get some good reps. If Timme does indeed want to make it to the next level at one point, the biggest thing he’ll have to work on is that perimeter shot. If he could even develop it a little bit, teams would likely be far more willing to take a closer look at him.
At 22 years old, Timme has plenty of room to grow moving forward. The chances of him becoming a full-time Buck at some point are slim, but fans should never say never, especially if the big man’s game develops. For now, picking him up on an Exhibit-10 contract is a very justifiable move.
Ranking the young Milwaukee Bucks: No. 7 – Lindell Wigginton, 25
At 25 years old, Lindell Wigginton is the oldest player on this list. He’s been with the Bucks or their G-League affiliate for several years now, and he’s still looking to carve out a role for himself. With the Bucks in need of a backup point guard, perhaps his opportunity could be coming. Yet, he lands here due to his age and how he compares to the rest of the candidates.
Could Wigginton be a fine backup point guard? He’s shown a knack for scoring and shooting from all over the court, and his passing is solid. A player like that could certainly help the Bucks, but the guard does have some holes in his game. Notably, he’s a tad undersized at 6-foot-2, which places him at a disadvantage defensively. Even in the Summer League, players were going at him.
Sometimes, the perfect situation can do everything for one’s development. Look at Jevon Carter’s production before and after he came to the team. If the Bucks do give Wigginton a legitimate shot to be their backup point guard, perhaps he could follow a similar path. Even then, at 25 years old, it’s unclear how much potential has yet to be unearthed when stacked up against the others here.
Ranking the young Milwaukee Bucks: No. 6 – Jazian Gortman, 20
The other player who could potentially be battling for Milwaukee’s backup point guard opening in training camp is Jazian Gortman. Despite not playing a huge role for the Bucks in Summer League, Gortman received a training camp deal. At 20 years old, he’s an interesting young player who has the tools to make a name for himself if he can put the pieces together.
Ironically, one player Gortman has been compared to is Jevon Carter, who led Milwaukee’s bench unit over the past two seasons. Like Jevon Carter, Gortman is a smaller guard who provides tough defense and can score the ball in a hurry on the other end with a smooth jumper. If Gortman could develop his game and be a Carter-esque player for Milwaukee, there’d be a spot for him in town.
Gortman likely will not spend much time playing with the Bucks in his rookie year, but he could be a key candidate to join the Herd. In the G-League, he could work on his game as he aims to make it to the next level. Again, he’s just 20 years old and has no shortage of room to grow. Having him in town to learn behind Jrue Holiday under Coach Adrian Griffin’s development could develop him.
Who knows, with a backup point guard vacancy on Milwaukee’s roster, Gortman could potentially be playing sooner rather than later.
Ranking the young Milwaukee Bucks: No. 5 – Omari Moore, 22
Immediately after the 2023 NBA Draft concluded, the Milwaukee Bucks signed Omari Moore of the San Jose State Spartans to a two-way deal. Fans were excited about the deal and wanted to get a closer look at Moore in the Summer League. Moore didn’t play a prominent role, but he will be with the Bucks next season regardless, and he’s got potential that needs to be unearthed.
During his four-year collegiate stay, Moore showed that he could be a solid scorer and facilitator, having averaged 11.2 points and 3.7 assists per game. On top of that, he’s a 6-foot-6 wing who gives the Bucks more versatility. The Bucks needed more youth, scoring, facilitating, and wings above 6-foot-5 on the roster, and Omari Moore checks off every single box there.
Moore, like most two-way players, won’t play a prominent role next season, but he can certainly use his rookie year to develop, especially with time in the G-League. If the Bucks can develop the wing, they could potentially have a quality 6-foot-6 scorer and passer on their hands to add to the bench brigade and shore up their wing depth. He’s just 22 years old and should fit in quite nicely.
In a league that is quickly becoming dominated by wings, a player like Moore could be an incredibly value piece eventually, so the Bucks should put Adrian Griffin’s player-development skills to use.
Ranking the young Milwaukee Bucks: No. 4 – A.J. Green, 23
A.J. Green was a nice find for the Milwaukee Bucks in the undrafted pool from the 2022 NBA Draft. On a two-way deal, Green quickly proved to be one of the best shooters on the Bucks last season, having shot 41.9 percent from three. Now, with a new standard contract under his belt, the guard has an opportunity to play a more significant role, and he could possibly be a major contributor.
Green’s 3-point shooting will get him on the floor this coming season. The Bucks need perimeter shooting surrounding Giannis Antetokounmpo next season, and Green is one of the best outside shooters in town. He could be used in the same role that players like Kyle Korver and Bryn Forbes played when they came to Milwaukee; Green would thrive in that particular role.
While the 23-year-old can let it fly on offense, his defense will be the biggest question mark in his second year. Can he take strides on that end and improve compared to his rookie season? If so, he could become an important piece of this team moving forward. Milwaukee has Green locked up on a very team-friendly deal, and him taking a year-two leap would be a big boost for the Bucks.
A breakout year could be in store for A.J. Green, which could lead to a bright future in Milwaukee.
Ranking the young Milwaukee Bucks: No. 3 – Chris Livingston, 19
The Milwaukee Bucks clearly believe in Chris Livingston, having handed him the largest salary for the final pick of an NBA Draft. At 19 years old, he’s the youngest player on the roster, and he will be placed under a microscope throughout his rookie campaign and beyond as the Bucks aim to put him in a position to succeed in the league.
Plenty of what was said about Omari Moore could be applied to Livingston. He’s a 6-foot-6 wing who will immediately give the team some much-needed depth. More so than Moore, Livingston has a shot to make more of an immediate impact due to his sturdy frame and defensive skill set. His defensive versatility could help mightily, especially as he becomes more seasoned as a player.
Livingston will spend most of the season learning behind Milwaukee’s other guys, which should be great for his development. He could undeniably learn a thing or two from players, but one he could look to emulate specifically is Jae Crowder due to their playstyles. If Livingston can become a stout wing defender who can also shoot the ball, he could earn his place in the rotation down the line.
It’s been a long time since the Milwaukee Bucks have had a 19-year-old in town that they clearly are all in on developing.
Ranking the young Milwaukee Bucks: No. 2 – Andre Jackson Jr., 21
Andre Jackson Jr. was on the Milwaukee Bucks’ radar leading up to the 2023 NBA Draft, and they got their guy by trading up to 36 to get him. The 21-year-old is yet another 6-foot-6 wing who is set to give the team some more depth at the position. Jackson showed signs of what he could be during the Summer League, which should have Bucks fans excited.
During his five-game Summer League stint, Jackson showcased his athleticism, incredible passing, and defensive prowess with a handful of highlight-reel plays. More than anything, he’d be another 6-foot-6 wing to utilize defensively against other wings, but he could also provide some passing off of Milwaukee’s bench, which they need now without a backup point guard.
The biggest thing Jackson will work on is his offense. During the Summer League, he looked a bit timid on offense, and teams dared him to shoot the ball. He checks off several other boxes, but a steady 3-point shot could take him to the next level. Out of all of the rookies, Jackson may be the most NBA-ready among the bunch, and it will be interesting to see how he is ultimately utilized.
If all goes well, Jackson could very well end up becoming Milwaukee’s glue guy down the line and turn himself into a Bruce Brown, Donte DiVincenzo, or Draymond Green type of player.
Ranking the young Milwaukee Bucks: No. 1 – MarJon Beauchamp, 22
Out of all of the young Milwaukee Bucks, MarJon Beauchamp undoubtedly has the most potential. He was the team’s first round draft pick in 2022 and rarely played during his rookie year. Under an entirely new coaching regime, Beauchamp seems destined to play a larger role as the team looks to get its youth more involved. That could be huge for Beauchamp’s on-court development.
Beauchamp has the skills to take a leap in year two. He’s a big wing who has shown he can play a strong defensive game while also scoring on the other end. The major thing for Beauchamp will be consistency. He was very inconsistent last season and in the Summer League, especially with the ball in his hands. If he could find a groove and stay more consistent, it would be a big step forward.
The 22-year-old could cement himself as an incredibly important piece of the puzzle next season, especially defensively, if he has made a good amount of progress in his development. The team is banking on him doing so, and the sky is the limit for Beauchamp. Depending on how things go, the youngster could be a key cog in Milwaukee’s core for years and years to come. That is the hope.
Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis and the development of these young players.