In his first year as the head coach of the Memphis Grizzlies, Taylor Jenkins was paired with a rookie guard phenom in Ja Morant. Now, in his first year with the Milwaukee Bucks, it looks like the team is aiming to copy that formula, with The Athletic's Sam Vecenie (subscription required) reporting that there are a handful of lead guards on Milwaukee's radar ahead of the NBA Draft.
Bucks seemingly want a guard for Jenkins
Names connected to the Milwaukee Bucks by Vecenie include Mikel Brown Jr., Labaron Philon Jr., Christian Anderson Jr., and Kingston Flemings. HoopsHype's workout tracker also says Darius Acuff Jr. has worked out for the team. Long story short, if the Bucks want to acquire a guard with their 10th overall pick, they will have options to choose from.
There's no telling if said guard would have as much success as Morant did under Jenkins, but it would be worth a try. Under Jenkins, Morant was a Rookie of the Year, Most Improved Player, and multi-time All-Star. Not all of that is due to Jenkins' excellent coaching and guidance, but it certainly played a part during Morant's best years.
Now, the Bucks are seemingly looking to bring some of that magic to Milwaukee.
Bucks' best bet at guard feels clear
The top guard prospect among the bunch linked to the Milwaukee Bucks is Darius Acuff Jr., but he will likely be long gone by the time Milwaukee is on the clock with the 10th overall selection. Instead, they should hope that Mikel Brown Jr. falls into their lap, as Vecenie has predicted in his mock draft. That would be a dream scenario for a team that could use a shot in the arm in the backcourt.
Known for high-level scoring, passing, and defense, Brown has the tools to be an immediate threat at the next level, especially under a coach like Jenkins. He'd make for a perfect fit next to Ryan Rollins in the backcourt, especially if Kevin Porter Jr. declines his player option and walks out the door. With or without Giannis Antetokounmpo on the roster, Brown would be a tremendous pickup.
The question is whether Brown will even be available when Milwaukee is up. Plenty of teams within the top 10 have already worked him out, and he seems to have a lot of fans. There is always a chance that he slips through the cracks, but that could be a pipe dream. Still, even if he is off the board, the Bucks will likely have a chance to snag a guard and put him to good use under Coach Taylor Jenkins.
Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis.
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