The Milwaukee Bucks haven't drafted well since Jon Horst took the reigns as general manager back in 2017.
Milwaukee's first round picks include DJ Wilson, who never panned out, Donte DiVincenzo, who has become a nice contributor elsewhere but never reached his full untapped potential with the Bucks, MarJon Beauchamp, who never consistently cracked the rotation and AJ Johnson, who didn't even last a full season with the team before being traded.
His second round picks have flashed some potential, such as Andre Jackson Jr. starting for a good chunk of this past season, but still, others like Jordan Nwora, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Tyler Smith and Chris Livingston, the highest-paid final pick of a draft ever, have failed to emerge as second round steals like many hoped they could be.
The lack of draft success stories has undoubtedly hurt the Milwaukee Bucks, and with Horst earning a contract extension recently, it's a flaw he must find a way to overcome.
The Bucks must hit on draft picks when they have the chance
A good draft pick can change everything. Of course, the Milwaukee Bucks likely won't be picking too high as long as Giannis Antetokounmpo is in town. Yet, they don't need to be to find legitimate talent. One example that serves as a crushing reminder is Indiana's Andrew Nembhard, a second-round pick who just torched Milwaukee in the postseason.
Meanwhile, the Bucks didn't get any contributions from their draft picks during their recent defeat to the Pacers.
With Milwaukee's financial restraints not going anywhere, adding low-cost talent through the draft will become a necessity moving forward. Contrary to how the media portrays it, the Bucks will have picks over the next several years, if they decide to keep them and not pursue external talent, something the former Executive of the Year is much better at.
The Bucks will have a first-round pick in 2026; it just depends on whether the New Orleans Pelicans want to swap it with their own. They have other picks tied up in swaps with New Orleans, Portland and Washington from trades involving Damian Lillard, Jrue Holiday and Kyle Kuzma. They also currently have their own first-rounders in 2031 and 2032, which will be incredibly valuable assets.
Hitting on draft picks could be the way forward in helping the Milwaukee Bucks balance both their veteran-oriented superstars and young, energetic supporting cast. It hasn't been Horst's strength during his time running things, but he must find a way to bring in more young contributors via the draft when the opportunity presents itself for the Bucks.
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