Add Michigan's Yaxel Lendeborg to the list of prospects the Milwaukee Bucks will work out ahead of the NBA Draft, per HoopsHype's tracker. It's no surprise that the Bucks want a closer look at him, as they checked him out last year as well. Yet, the big question mark this time around is whether Giannis Antetokounmpo will be there this time around. That should ultimately determine if the Bucks add him.
Lendeborg only makes sense for certain teams
As one of the older prospects in this class—Lendeborg will be 24 when he plays his first NBA game—teams looking to contend should be all-in on the forward. If a team with a first-round pick thinks they are on the cusp of championship contention, the thought of adding an experienced prospect with the potential to immediately slot into the rotation must be desirable to them.
On the flip side, teams that are nowhere near the championship picture should stay far, far away. Why would a team that has no realistic shot to get over the hump take a soon-to-be 24-year-old over one of the younger, more unpolished prospects in this loaded class, given that they would fit better with their timeline? They shouldn't.
That's why the Milwaukee Bucks should be on the fence. They have no idea which version of those two teams they will be next season.
Lendeborg makes sense with Giannis in town
If the Milwaukee Bucks trade Giannis, drafting Lendeborg doesn't make sense. No matter what kind of package they get in return, contending likely won't be on the table. Their best bet would be grabbing a young, high-upside player who still has plenty of development left. Players like Mikel Brown Jr. and Labaron Philon Jr. jump off the page in that regard.
However, if the Milwaukee Bucks work some magic and convince Giannis to stick around, the thought of adding Lendeborg becomes more appealing. In that sense, they could add a win-now contributor in the form of one of the most developed prospects in this class. If the Bucks were to trade Bobby Portis and Kyle Kuzma for an upgrade, Lendeborg would become especially important.
For now, it won't hurt to work out the forward as the team sorts out its future. That is especially true considering the team might be looking around for ways to have multiple picks in this draft. There is a world where Yaxel Lendeborg fits in with the Bucks, but time will tell if that's the one that ultimately is left standing in the coming weeks.
Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis.
Add us as a preferred source on Google