This may be the first season in some time where the Milwaukee Bucks' draft picks really pay off. The Bucks have selected plenty of players in recent years, and it hasn't worked out for numerous reasons. For example, 2022 pick MarJon Beauchamp has now left the NBA and is heading to Bayern Munich, reinforcing the team's struggles with talent identification and development.
MarJon Beauchamp showed plenty of promise but struggled
The 24th overall pick showed real glimpses during his rookie season, generating plenty of interest in how he would develop as a player. This attention wasn't only from Bucks circles; members within the NBA media were intrigued by him and how he would help Milwaukee contend in years to come.
In his sophomore season, his stats dipped only slightly, but in the 2024-25 season, he fell out of favor with then-head coach Doc Rivers. Playing in just 26 games and averaging 4.7 minutes per game resulted in him being traded to the Clippers in exchange for Kevin Porter Jr., a deal that the Bucks very clearly won.
Beauchamp struggled to find a home in LA before deals with the Trail Blazers and Knicks never amounted to anything. A two-way deal with the Sixers last season saw him average 6.8 points in 14 games, giving some belief that he could stick around in the league, maybe even return to the Bucks.
Like many, Beauchamp suffered from the Bucks competing and not giving young prospects significant minutes. The development of young talent has been a question. For now, Beauchamp is heading to Europe and will likely look to make his way back to the NBA eventually.
Rookies can buck the trend
Milwaukee hasn't had draft picks this high in the draft for some time. The early returns for Brayden Burries and Nate Ament on this rebuilding team are extremely positive. Burries was a standout during Summer League, while Ament grew into things and showed what he can do.
It makes the failure of Milwaukee's past picks harder to stomach.
Andre Jackson Jr. recently signed with the Raptors, while AJ Johnson, Tyler Smith, and Chris Livingston are all hoping to continue their careers in the NBA despite uncertain futures. To further rub salt in the team's wounds, Sandro Mamukelashvili signed a four-year, $52 million contract with the Lakers this summer, a clear sign that Milwaukee cut ties too soon on a good draft pick.
The big difference for this current crop of rookies (add Bogoljub Markovic to this) is that the Bucks are in a completely different era where minutes and development are absolutely needed. Previously, they didn't feel they could afford to let the rookies off the leash; now they have to if they want to get through this upcoming rebuild.
Beauchamp is still only 25, and playing in the Basketball Bundesliga and EuroLeague is as good a level outside the NBA as you can get. He may well find his way back to the league, but it still serves as a harsh reminder of the Milwaukee Bucks' poor draft history.
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