With the 10th overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, the Milwaukee Bucks selected Thon Maker in what was a bold gamble. The move never panned out, with Maker's limitless potential never translating to the NBA level, and it's only gotten worse with time due to Pascal Siakam's rise. Siakam, drafted by the Toronto Raptors 27th overall, has been a thorn in Milwaukee's side for years now.
Bucks' Maker selection continues to sting
The Maker selection itself was a major swing and a miss. Despite the shocking measurements and untapped athletic ability, the big man never found his footing. In his two and a half seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks, he averaged just 4.5 points, 2.6 boards, and 0.5 assists in 13.3 minutes per game. He eventually requested to be traded and hasn't been in the NBA since 2020-21.
The Milwaukee Bucks were clearly hoping that Maker could be their next incredibly raw project to rise to stardom after striking gold with Giannis Antetokounmpo a few years prior. While the similarities were there, not even former NBA MVP and Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett saying he believes Maker would be an MVP one day could save the big man.
Selecting a player who turned out like that 10th overall would have been haunting enough, but the ascension of Pascal Siakam has only made things worse for the Milwaukee Bucks.
In 2018-19, Siakam, that season's Most Improved Player, burst onto the scene and played a crucial part in helping Toronto take down Milwaukee in the playoffs. Despite the Bucks holding a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference Finals, the Raptors won the series by taking four straight. Kawhi Leonard and Kyle Lowry were the driving forces behind the win, but Siakam certainly did plenty of damage.
Of course, Siakam has given the Milwaukee Bucks plenty of trouble over the past two seasons as a member of the Indiana Pacers as well. In 2024, he averaged 22.3 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 4.2 assists in six playoff games against the Bucks. This past playoff clash, he put up 19.8 points, six rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.2 steals. He seems to simply love playing the Bucks on the big stage.
Had the Milwaukee Bucks not selected Malcolm Brogdon, a player they could still reunite with this summer if they desire, in the second round, this draft would have been a flat-out disaster.
This selection is among the many draft misses the Milwaukee Bucks have stacked up recently.
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