The Bucks could go many different routes in this year's draft, but recent reports of them working out Darius Acuff Jr. should worry fans. Acuff was a prolific scorer in his sole college season, but is an extremely undersized guard whose defensive liabilities could hold him back in the NBA. Milwaukee might be better off avoiding defensive liabilities and instead focusing on a two-way guard with their pick.
Acuff brings major concerns for the Bucks
Not only is Acuff a small guard - 6'2", 185lbs - but he also showed poor defensive effort in college. In the NBA, opponents will only get better and more relentless hunting him out. Obviously, the Bucks had defensive concerns of their own last year and adding another poor defender in a lead role will only make them worse.
Some other NBA teams have found success even with smaller, defensively limited guards leading them because they're able to hide those guards. Take the Knicks as an example: they've finally broken through to the Finals and a potential title because all 4 of their starters besides Jalen Brunson have been playing elite defense in the playoffs. Unfortunately, the Bucks wouldn't have the same luxury to help Acuff.
At their best in recent years, the Bucks have put strong backcourt defenders on the court next to Giannis Antetokounmpo. As the league has shifted towards attacking weaknesses in the playoffs, avoiding weak links has been key to success. It may even impact how the Bucks conduct a potential Giannis trade this summer.
Drafting Acuff with a high pick could be a repeat of the same Bucks mistake since trading away Jrue Holiday. Even an All-Star offensive player in Damian Lillard wasn't able to have the same impact as Holiday in Milwaukee because of his defensive flaws. Hoping that Acuff ever gets to a point where he can make up for his defensive weakness is a Hail Mary.
Drafting Acuff will be costly in more ways than one
It's also important to note that Acuff will likely be off the board by the 10th overall pick, despite his glaring defensive woes. So the Bucks would need to trade up just to be in position to take him. That could mean trading up to the Nets' 6th pick or the Kings' 7th pick.
Neither upgrade will come free of charge, so the Bucks would have to add more assets just to select Acuff. They're currently short on assets as is, and giving up more just to take a player with obvious holes in his game is not a smart gamble. No matter how you cut it, Darius Acuff Jr. is looking like a big draft mistake for the Bucks.
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