Against all odds as an undersized, offensive-minded guard, Jalen Brunson has led New York to the NBA Finals and a 2-0 lead over the Spurs. The Milwaukee Bucks might be among the interested parties in the offense. At least, that is, if they are seriously evaluating Arkansas guard Darius Acuff Jr. as a potential draft target. The projected top six pick has already had a workout with the Bucks, so the answer would seem to be yes.
Like Brunson, Acuff is picked on defensively and, no matter how hard he works, may never escape that reputation. He just isn't big enough to succeed in the modern NBA.
Or so the narrative goes.
Brunson giving Bucks argument in Acuff's favor
Brunson has something to say about that. If the Bucks have misgivings about investing in Acuff, perhaps they feel somewhat reassured watching the Knicks star pioneer his team to the promised land.
Acuff is an offensive beast of his own. The 6-foot-3 freshman finished last season averaging 23.5 points and 6.4 assists on 48/44/81 shooting splits, and he only got better as the stage grew bigger. En route to the Sweet Sixteen in the NCAA Tournament, Acuff supplied a solidly efficient 29.3 points per contest.
A 49-point outpouring against Alabama in February, on 16-for-27 from the field, provided the highlight of his season and showcased his explosive potential. Acuff surged from being a popular Bucks mock pick at No. 10 to a spot in the top five or six selections.
The thing scaring some teams away, or at least giving them pause, is his glaring vulnerability on the defensive end. Surviving as an offense-only guard is becoming harder and harder. The Bucks got a front-row seat to that reality with Cam Thomas last season, who lasted all of six weeks in Milwaukee before being waived.
But if Brunson is any indication, the prototype isn't dead just yet. Call Brunson an outlier, sure, but Acuff's promise is such that many envision an All-NBA offensive ceiling. He either has to do just enough on defense or provide the offense to justify being a blinking red target on the other end. Brunson has done it. If the hype is real, maybe Acuff can too.
Whether the Bucks believe that won't matter if they stand pat with only the 10th overall pick. Enough teams will be willing to take a swing on Acuff to ensure that he goes off the board early. For the Bucks to be that team, they will need to move into range via trade, most likely one involving Giannis Antetokounmpo.
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