Outside of health, the Milwaukee Bucks' biggest Achilles' heel in the Giannis Antetokounmpo era was their inability to hit on draft picks. Many players were pegged as the piece who could finally break the long-running curse, but none came through. Now, as the team's highest picks in a long time, it will be up to Brayden Burries and Nate Ament to determine whether the team has turned over a new leaf.
Burries, Ament can flip the script
Picking 10th and 13th, the Milwaukee Bucks are far more likely to hit on selections there than in the late teens or mid-20s, as they have been for the last decade. Utilizing picks that high for the first time in a long time only adds pressure on the Bucks to get it right. These are two players who will be vital cogs in the team's future if they live up to the lofty expectations surrounding them.
Burries and Ament won't erase Milwaukee's poor draft record or heal the pain of coming up short repeatedly in the Giannis era, but they can set the stage for a brighter future. If the pair contribute meaningfully to the Milwaukee Bucks sooner rather than later, it will be a sign that maybe the Bucks actually can overcome these brutal draft woes moving forward.
One advantage they have over past Bucks' draft picks is that they will have a coach in Taylor Jenkins who is far more in tune with player development compared to Mike Budenholzer and Doc Rivers.
Drafting will be essential in new era
When Giannis was in town, the Milwaukee Bucks could look past their drafting woes because they had a superstar player who could carry them regardless. Now, they don't have that. No matter how big a leap he might take, Tyler Herro isn't Giannis. For the team to be successful as they embark on this new journey, they need to hit on draft picks every chance they get, no matter where they select.
Of course, the Bucks don't fully control their draft picks over the next several years, which will make navigating this new era even more challenging. Still, all that matters is that when they are up to pick, the Bucks land a contributor who can develop into a long-term piece. If the team's draft issues carry over into this Giannis-less era, the Bucks will be in even more trouble than they were before.
Brayden Burries and Nate Ament, it's up to you to set the tone as the first picks in this new chapter.
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