The Milwaukee Bucks will likely be looking for help at center this coming offseason as the futures of Brook Lopez, Bobby Portis, and Jericho Sims are all in question. One avenue they should explore to add a big body is the NBA Draft. Sports Illustrated has Creighton's Ryan Kalkbrenner mocked to the Bucks at 47 in the upcoming draft, as he has a similar game to Lopez.
While there is plenty to like about Kalkbrenner's game, his lack of athleticism and mobility could be issues that remind Milwaukee Bucks fans of the team's flaws this past season, forcing them to steer clear of the big man.
Analyzing Kalkbrenner's potential fit with the Bucks
Just like Brook Lopez has been for most of his tenure in Milwaukee, the 7-foot Kalkbrenner is a huge roadblock in the paint for opposing drivers. During his five-year college stint, he averaged 2.4 blocks per game and was a four-time Big East Defensive Player of the Year. He could be that dominant threat in drop coverage that helped Lopez become a formidable defender once he got to Milwaukee.
That could be where the problem lies, though. While Lopez is successful in the drop, that style of play was exposed this past year due to the big man's lack of athletic ability. Whenever the Indiana Pacers pulled Lopez out beyond the paint in the playoffs, he was often exposed. It got to the point where he got benched, losing his starting spot for the first time in his postseason career.
Kalkbrenner possesses a similar lack of mobility that could make it tough for him to defend out on the perimeter. After seeing what just went down with Lopez, the Milwaukee Bucks might be better suited to pursue athletic big men who can provide some mobility away from the basket.
To be clear, there is a lot to like about Kalkbrenner. In addition to the dominant interior defense, he has five years of college experience under his belt, so he may be ready to help sooner rather than later. He also shot 34.4 percent from downtown during his final season, showing that he may be able to stretch his offensive game out to the perimeter, adding to his desirability.
Kalkbrenner could help the Milwaukee Bucks, but his athletic limitations may not make him the most ideal fit after what just went down in the NBA Playoffs.
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