In a surprising turn of events, the Milwaukee Bucks selected Bogoljub Marković with the 47th pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. On paper, it's an interesting selection, but it would quickly become an infuriating one if the team stashes the Serbian overseas next season, a prediction made by ESPN's Jonathan Givony as soon as the pick happened.
Stashing a valuable asset would be puzzling for Bucks
With an injured starting point guard and few assets to improve the roster, the Milwaukee Bucks aren't in a position to be stashing players. Making this pick, they needed to bring in a player who could help this coming season. Bringing in Marković is still absolutely on the table, as Givony just delivered his own prediction, but if it comes true, this trade will be looked at in a different light.
That's especially true with players like Tyrese Proctor and John Tonje still on the board when the Bucks made their pick. With Damian Lillard out and Ryan Rollins and Kevin Porter Jr. bracing for free agency, it would have made all the sense in the world to take Proctor. Tonje could have been a smooth second-unit scorer to help alleviate scoring pressure off of Giannis Antetokounmpo.
To be clear, there are things to like about the youngster. At 6-foot-11, he's a smooth-shooting big, having hit 41 percent of his triples last season. It's no secret that the Milwaukee Bucks like putting shooting around Giannis Antetokounmpo, and with Brook Lopez's future uncertain, it makes sense to add another floor-spacing big. However, it won't matter if he's not there with the team next season.
The young big man also has some flaws. Like Lopez, he's not the quickest on his feet and can struggle when matched up with guards and forwards. With that, he also won't be doing too much for Milwaukee's transition woes.
Even if he is there, Doc Rivers still has to play him, something he hasn't shown much of a willingness to do with Milwaukee's past rookies. Both of last season's rookies were 19, and so is Marković. If the plan is to stash him, it might be good for his development, but it makes little sense for a Milwaukee team that needs as much help as it can get next season.
Only time will reveal the Milwaukee Bucks' plans with their newcomer, but right now, Givony's early prediction would leave a sour taste in the mouths of fans everywhere.
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