It didn't take long at all for former Milwaukee Bucks forward Tyler Smith to find his next home. He went second overall in the G League Draft to the Osceola Magic but was traded to the Capital City Go-Go, who had the third overall pick. Smith will now have a chance to get his career back on the right track following his release from the Milwaukee Bucks.
Welcome to The Capital City, Tyler!#BeatOfDC pic.twitter.com/cewk78iNKb
— Capital City Go-Go (@CapitalCityGoGo) October 25, 2025
Tyler Smith lands in the perfect spot to continue his career
The Bucks were never a perfect fit for Smith timeline-wise. For a team that was all-in on winning, it was hard to think of a scenario where a raw 19-year-old second-round draft pick would enter the rotation anytime soon. Milwaukee took a long-term approach with Smith, but the second they had a roster crunch, they let him go to keep more experienced players on the roster.
Smith won't face that problem with the Go-Go. In the G League, he can focus on getting more touches and proving that he belongs at the next level. Even if he eventually makes his way back up to the NBA with the Wizards, the Go-Go's affiliate, there is a chance he could carve out a role for himself, as they are a team that is all-in on seeing what they have in their young players.
At just 20 years old, Smith hasn't scratched the surface of his potential. The desirable attributes are crystal clear. The Milwaukee Bucks added him because he was a smooth-shooting, athletic big man who would have fit perfectly alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo. There were glimpses of potential sprinkled in when he got playing time, but it never extended beyond just mop-up duty.
To Go-Go will now look to unearth that potential.
With Smith gone, both members of Milwaukee's 2024 draft class are now gone just over a year later. Coincidentally, they are both in the same organization as well. Of course, AJ Johnson, the first-round pick in 2024, was traded to the Wizards in the Kyle Kuzma trade deadline stunner. The pair might not share the court together, but they have a chance to spread their wings more than they did previously.
The Milwaukee Bucks should absolutely take this as a lesson. Both Johnson and Smith can become quality players, but their inexperience always made it tough to justify taking them. Moving forward, it is clear they must make picks that fit their win-now timeline better.
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