If the Milwaukee Bucks get the green light that Giannis Antetokounmpo wants to return next season, every asset they have should be on the table to help make this team better next year. That includes their pick in the second round of the 2025 NBA Draft, which they could use to add a player ready to help from day one next season.
Last season, the Milwaukee Bucks used both their first and second-round picks on 19-year-olds who were not ready to contribute. It was a bold swing for a franchise looking to contend with an aging roster, and it didn't exactly pay off in year one. This year, the later part of the draft class, where the Milwaukee Bucks will pick, is full of experienced players who could potentially help right away.
Bucks could snag a ready-made contributor late in the draft
Looking at prospects, there are plenty of players who stand out. John Tonje (23), a player who many Wisconsinites are hoping drops to Milwaukee, Micah Peavy (23), Sion James (23), Max Shulga (23), Alijah Martin (23) and Koby Brea (23), who has been mocked to the Bucks already, are all players with five years of collegiate basketball under their belt who are projected to be on the board late.
Diving deeper, several of them are wings, a position that could need some retooling this summer as the Milwaukee Bucks are in danger of losing several, most notably Gary Trent Jr. While one of these players might not be able to immediately sustain a rotational role, their experience may make them a better fit in the timeline over a young player who is several years away from touching the floor.
The Milwaukee Bucks have had their struggles when it comes to drafting over the past several years, and no one should expect a pick in the late 40s to come in and be a legitimate difference-maker. Yet, if the front office can find a player with some legitimate potential to contribute right away, it could be a significant boost as they gear up for another pivotal season.
Depending on what moves Jon Horst and the Bucks might be working on behind the scenes leading up to the draft, who knows if Milwaukee will even have that pick. However, if they do keep it, it's clear what kind of player they could likely get when they are officially on the clock in June.
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