Currently gearing up for what they hope will be a deep playoff run, the Milwaukee Bucks likely aren't too focused on the upcoming 2025 NBA Draft.
However, after the just-concluded collegiate basketball season, there are undeniably a handful of names that they could be keeping tabs on, one of which already has Wisconsin ties. In the latest mock draft from ESPN's Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo, Milwaukee picks 47th, thanks to the Detroit Pistons' selection, where they select Wisconsin's John Tonje.
ESPN has the Milwaukee Bucks taking Wisconsin's super senior
After bouncing around the country during his first five collegiate seasons, Tonje found his footing as a Wisconsin Badger. In 37 contests, he averaged 19.6 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.8 assists while hitting 38.8 percent of his triples. In his last game, a postseason loss to BYU, he tried to carry Wisconsin to a win with an impressive 37 points (a program record), four assists and four rebounds.
There's a lot to like about Tonje. He's an electric scorer, capable of knocking down the long ball while also stepping inside the work and creating. At 6-foot-5, 222 pounds, he has the build to be a versatile wing defender, though it's an area in which he certainly has room to grow in. At 23, his ceiling may not be as high as some younger players, but he could potentially be more NBA-ready at his age.
With Taurean Prince, Ryan Rollins, AJ Green, Pat Connaughton, Kevin Porter Jr. and Gary Trent Jr. all set to be eligible to enter free agency this coming offseason, the Milwaukee Bucks may need to add some wing and scoring depth. Tonje checks off both boxes. In theory, he could play the role of being a complementary second-unit shot creator, like Gary Trent Jr. has done for most of the year.
As the Milwaukee Bucks have learned this year, having youth in today's NBA is crucial. Rather than the idea of consistently relying on veterans, sometimes, even if they are inexperienced, the sheer energy and presence of a young player can turn the tide in any game on any given night.
Tonje wouldn't be a difference-maker, but he'd give this team another potential-filled young wing, a premium position, who could help this team. The ties to Wisconsin certainly add intrigue, but above all else, what he does on the court is what truly makes John Tonje an interesting potential pick for the Milwaukee Bucks. Time will tell how things shake out when and if the Bucks are on the clock.
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