Despite having the 10th overall pick, the Milwaukee Bucks have been eyeing draft prospects who are expected to be long gone by the time they are on the clock. Sure, due diligence never hurt, but there has always been skepticism that players like Mikel Brown Jr. will be there. Well, perhaps the solution to that problem would be trading up in the draft, something Milwaukee might be quietly considering.
Per NBA insider Jake Fischer (subscription required), the Bucks have left opposing front offices with the impression that they would like to trade up if possible. If Milwaukee has any legitimate interest in Brown or any of the other prospects expected to fall between picks five and nine, moving up in the draft order is their best bet to secure them.
Picks five to ten feature immense talent
Several players Fischer mentions in connection to the Bucks are Mikel Brown Jr., Darius Acuff Jr., Keaton Wagler, and Kingston Flemings. That goes without mentioning that they have also worked out Labaron Philon Jr. All five names are guards, further bolstering the thought that Milwaukee would love to beef up the backcourt in this draft.
While any of those players would be worthwhile additions, Brown and Wagler stand as the two who should captivate Milwaukee the most. Fischer notes that the Bucks sent a "travel contingent" down to Orlando to watch Brown, a bucket-getter with immense potential, work out recently. Wagler is a high-end guard expected to be the first player off the board after the first four set-in-stone picks.
If the Milwaukee Bucks truly envision one of the upper-echelon guards in this class being a piece for years to come, trading up makes sense. The question is how they would plan to do that.
Bucks' odds of trading up are slim
Fischer mentions that there are no obvious trade-up partners for Milwaukee right now. Everyone but Dallas, who picks ninth, appears to be content with where they are. Would it pay for the Bucks to trade significant assets to move up one spot? Not really. Giannis Antetokounmpo would likely need to be in a deal to convince any of them, and none of the teams involved have been mentioned as realistic.
Instead, Milwaukee will almost certainly end up staying put, hoping that one of the top guards sees a massive drop in stock and slips. Of the bunch, Flemings feels like the most realistic candidate due to his size. Brown falling would be a dream scenario, and while it shouldn't be ruled out entirely, the odds are not in Milwaukee's favor.
Yet, the Milwaukee Bucks are clearly poking around what it would take to move up if a player like Brown is within their reach.
Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis.
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