The Milwaukee Bucks' attention turns towards the 2025 NBA Draft and their many needs to be filled. They only hold the 47th overall pick; any free agent moves and possible Giannis Antetokounmpo trade discussions will be vital to where they go with the pick.
Milwaukee has a poor history with its draft picks, but this year could be key. The draft class is deep and gives the Bucks a variety of directions they can go. Here is one player at each position the Bucks should pursue.
PG - Boogie Fland, Arkansas
Damian Lillard's torn Achilles puts him in doubt for the majority, if not all, of the 2025-26 season. Many hope Ryan Rollins will stick around after showing flashes, but the door is open to potentially finding a young guard to be a possible long-term option in the backcourt. Arkansas point guard Boogie Fland is an exciting prospect with his shifty handles and scoring ability.
In the 2024-25 season, Fland averaged 13.5 points, 5.1 assists, 3.2 rebounds and 1.5 steals on shooting splits of .379/.340/.833. He is a downhill attacker who plays with pace to open up shots for himself. As a playmaker, he is excellent at navigating screens and finding the open man, something the Milwaukee Bucks will miss with Lillard out. Despite being 6-foot-2, Fland is a pest defensively and has shown his quick hands, in addition to his ability to stay in front of his man.
At just 18, Fland is still incredibly young and inexperienced. Last season, the Bucks took AJ Johnson in the first round despite his inexperience, and they could potentially do it again here.
SG - Milos Uzan, Houston
As the Bucks have been regular contenders, many fans hoped they would draft more experienced players out of college. Houston guard Milos Uzan fits that perfectly, with three years under his belt with the Cougars, playing regularly. He leveled his game up in the 2024-25 season by averaging 11.4 points, 4.3 assists and 3.1 rebounds on great shooting splits of .453/.428/.783.
He is a reliable playmaker and rarely turns the ball over despite his creativity in finding the open man. The shooting splits speak for themself; that makes him a threat with and without the ball. Backcourt defense has been a problem for the Milwaukee Bucks in the last two seasons. Uzan would bring effort and enthusiasm, with great versatility to battle with bigger guards and wings.
One player who has been mocked to the Bucks is guard Dink Pate from the G League's Mexico City Capitanes. The 19-year-old is still a raw prospect, and turning towards Uzan would be a much better pick for the Bucks. He would provide a ball-handler and shooter who takes pressure off of Giannis.
SF - Sion James, Duke
The Bucks have drafted multiple wings in recent years, and so far, it is hard to say if any have been a success.
MarJon Beauchamp is now a two-way player, Andre Jackson Jr. found his way into the rotation and then the end of the bench, while we haven't seen a whole lot of Chris Livingston over the last two years. Taurean Prince is a free agent and was unplayable in the playoffs. In the draft, Duke senior Sion James is someone they should pursue and can be a ready-made replacement.
James' versatility on defense is what makes him most valuable. He has great strength, and his strong 6-foot-6 frame allows him to guard multiple positions but still be agile. This season, he averaged 8.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 0.8 steals on good splits of .516/.413/.810. His jump in 3-point shooting from his 28 percent in the 2020-21 season is excellent, possibly making him the perfect prospect to partner with Giannis Antetokounmpo.
He has a sneaky playmaking game, too, excelling in the flow of the offense and providing an extra ball-handler for teams. Mock drafts say he resembles Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and De'Anthony Melton, two guys who have made great additions to the roster in recent memory. James is likely going to be available at 47, and the Milwaukee Bucks could have a real steal if they select him.
PF - Alex Karaban, Connecticut
It would be unlikely that the Milwaukee Bucks go with another stretch four with Tyler Smith still on the roster and hoping to get more minutes next season. Connecticut's Alex Karaban can be a forward they look at to play both the three and the four spots. He is a 3-point sniper and plays good team defense. This season, he averaged 14.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.5 blocks on shooting splits of .438/.347/.828.
Those are good splits, but they are the worst of his three-year college career. Returning to the form of being a 40 percent 3-point shooter would make him a steal late in the second round. He works well as the screener in pick-and-pop actions and can hit shots from deep on the move. Defensively, he plays with effort and is always in the right position, offering an extra hand on the glass.
His back-to-basket game is also solid. Teams won't be able to hide weaker defenders on him, as he has a nice hook shot and good feel for when to cut. What may steer the Milwaukee Bucks away from him is his slight lack of athleticism. Karaman doesn't have the athleticism that other prospects have, sometimes leaving him exposed when guarding quicker wings.
C - Johni Broome, Auburn
Auburn Senior Johni Broome is an NBA-ready player with great interior skills, and he plays hard on defense. With Brook Lopez possibly hitting the free agency market, the Bucks could look to fill a spot at center through the draft. Broome can slot into the rotation straight away after averaging 18.6 points, 10.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 2.1 blocks and a steal per game on splits of .510/.278/.587.
The effort he plays with is something that stands out; he runs the floor hard, hustles and is a great communicator on defense. His finishing at the rim is crafty, but he also is a slick passer from the low and high post, finding cutters or reading defenses to find wide-open teammates on the perimeter. Broome's 6-foot-10, 240 lb frame makes him a great screener and roller, using his aggression to power past defenders or the soft touch on his floaters and hook shots.
What he lacks is shooting. He isn't the reliable perimeter threat like Lopez, and teams will leave him wide open to take their chances with his 3-point shooting. Yet, Broome is a tone setter, and his effort and emotion are perhaps something the Bucks have lacked in recent years. He is not afraid to get physical and display his emotions, something that his teammates and the crowd can then feed off.
These are just a few of the names that could fill the holes of the Milwaukee Bucks roster as it stands. Free agency moves and possible trades will determine what direction they go in at the 47th pick. One thing for sure is this draft is deep, and there are a plethora of guys that can help the Bucks in both the short and long term.