The Milwaukee Bucks have turned their attention towards tackling Damian Lillard's absence, with Ukrainian guard Max Shulga working out with the team ahead of the NBA Draft.
There is no way to fill the void left by Lillard's injury, but the Bucks can work towards bolstering the backcourt and sharing the responsibility and workload. Ryan Rollins had a great season, going from a two-way player to ending the season as a key piece of the Bucks' rotation. AJ Green is another key cog of the roster that has come through the undrafted to two-way player pathway, and perhaps VCU's Shulga could be the next one to follow suit.
Max Shulga would be a nice guard pickup for the Bucks
Unlike many of the Bucks' recent young players, Shulga has plenty of college experience under his belt, playing three years at Utah State before he transferred to VCU to follow head coach Ryan Odom. He went on to spend two seasons with the Rams.
One issue the Milwaukee Bucks have had in recent years is bringing in project players over those who can come in and help the team straightaway. That is not to say Shulga is ready to crack the rotation instantly, but he has a skill set that can contribute if he finds his footing.
In the 2024-25 season, Shulga averaged 15 points, 5.9 rebounds, four assists and 1.8 steals on strong shooting splits of .435/.387/.783. He was part of the Eastern Region's 11th-ranked team in March Madness, and Shulga contributed 12 points, all of which were from 3-point range (4-of-10, 40 percent) as the Rams fell to an 80-71 defeat to the sixth-seeded BYU.
The 6-foot-4 guard is a career 39.2 percent shooter from deep on four attempts per game. That consistency stands him in good stead if he does end up in the NBA. It is likely that he goes undrafted, but those undrafted players need a skill set that teams can buy into; Shulga's shooting is that. His development in Spain and with the Ukrainian U18 National Team helped him slot straight into the college game when he arrived in 2020.
He has a big frame for a guard, with a long reach that helps him compete defensively and finish or shoot over defenders with his quick release. The 1.8 steals this season stand out, that is down to his ability to contain his man before stealing the ball away and hounding players into mistakes. Shulga can play either of the backcourt spots, with him organizing and setting up the offense with on-ball and off-ball actions.
Rollins may be more of the facilitating type of guard, while Shulga can come in and be a scorer from the bench. His ability to get to the rim is smooth with tight handles and a decisive first step to get past his defender, before finishing with a gentle touch or using his high-level vision to find an open man.
It would be very unlikely that Shulga can fill the void left by Lillard, but his offensive prowess, mixed with ball-handling and his active defense, could see him find a way onto the Milwaukee Bucks roster. Milwaukee needs to get younger, and bringing in Shulga as a two-way or undrafted player gives them a seasoned guard who has the skills to contribute.