Tyler Smith is jobless and searching for his next opportunity to stay in the NBA, while Ajay Mitchell, the guard Milwaukee could've drafted instead, is thriving as a legitimate rotation player in this league. The contrast gets more painful every game Mitchell plays, and at a certain point, you have to ask: how did the Bucks botch yet another draft pick?
The counting stats alone should tell you all you need to know. Mitchell's putting up 14.1 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.4 steals in 26.3 minutes per game. Meanwhile, Tyler Smith still hasn't found his next NBA home since being waived by the Milwaukee Bucks in the preseason and let go by the Rockets earlier this month after they terminated his two-way contract.
The 2024 second-rounder is tossing in free agent oblivion, hoping another team gives him a chance despite his raw talent.
The Bucks could have taken a win-now player, but they didn't
Every team whiffs on picks. But this one stings because the gap between what Smith is (G-Leaguer out the league) and what Mitchell is (productive NBA rotation player) grows wider every week.
Of course, the decision to draft Smith wasn't without its merit. At 6-foot-9 with a smooth shooting stroke, Smith is the latest in a long line of big wings who the league thought would become versatile, do-it-all glue guys. It didn't help that he had the prestige and name recall of coming from the highly touted G League Ignite.
But as Bucks fans know well, things didn't work out the way they would have wanted. Things culminated in the front office ultimately deciding to keep both Amir Coffey and Andre Jackson Jr.. Like many of their moves, the decision came down to roster crunch.
The regret in drafting Tyler Smith isn't just about missing on him. It's more about the fact that they had to pass on Ajay Mitchell, who's becoming exactly what the Bucks desperately need and could've had for the same draft capital. (It doesn't help that they whiffed their other pick in that draft, too.)
According to Cleaning the Glass, opposing offenses are putting up -6.4 fewer points per 100 possessions, putting Mitchell in the 90th percentile among guards. So he's not just been a competent role player; he's been nothing short of elite on the defensive side of the ball.
He's no slouch on the other end of the floor, either. For anyone paying attention, it's plain to see: the kid simply has an elite feel for the game, high-level IQ, and efficient scoring. Mark Daigneault's system often sees him acting as a key connector in a fast-paced system. On top of that, he excels as a pick-and-roll operator, which explains his excellent averages.
Smith might eventually figure it out and carve out an NBA career. But Mitchell's already there. The Bucks could have had a win-now player flanking Giannis Antetokounmpo and a Bucks team that needs help urgently. Instead, they have another wasted draft selection. Because of that, they're back to looking for talent at the bottom of the proverbial barrel.
The fact of the matter is that Jon Horst and company chose wrong for the umpteenth time. And Ajay Mitchell's breakout makes that mistake impossible to ignore.