The 2024 NBA Draft is slated for June, and in what has been a rarity over the past several seasons, the Milwaukee Bucks will have a few picks at their disposal, including a first and second-rounder.
Of course, the team could opt to trade the picks down the line, which would make sense if they want to bring in more established players. However, a world exists where they keep the picks, one of which is a first-rounder in the 20s, and bring in young players to address the team's needs.
With a pick in the early 20s, the Bucks will more than likely not have the top name on their big board available when they are on the clock. However, the draft is unpredictable, and perhaps a quality player could fall into their lap, depending on how things shake out.
That said, let us highlight three players the Milwaukee Bucks should hope fall in the 2024 NBA Draft.
Kel’el Ware, Indiana
The Milwaukee Bucks need to at least start thinking about life after Brook Lopez. He's under contract for next season, but he's 36 years old, and there were some signs of decline this past season. There's no telling how much time he has left, so if the Bucks want to bring in a possible replacement for him to take the reigns down the line, they should keep an eye on Indiana's Kel'el Ware.
Ironically, in NBA.com's latest mock draft, Ware's pro comparison is Brook Lopez. Not only is he a terror for opposing teams at the rim, flashing signs of incredible shot-blocking and rim protection, but he's a quality perimeter shooter as well, having hit 42.5 percent of his triples in college last season. The Bucks could plug him into the lineup and have him do a lot of the same things as Lopez.
One of Ware's most eye-catching attributes is the big man's athleticism. He moves extremely well for a 7-foot, 230-lb individual. There's no denying that the Milwaukee Bucks could use some mobility on the defensive end at the center spot, something Lopez and Bobby Portis have lacked. Athleticism is a priority for the Bucks this off-season, and Ware would fill that void nicely.
Ryan Dunn, Virginia
The Milwaukee Bucks need more strong defenders on this roster, particularly versatile ones who can defend multiple positions consistently. It's something the roster lacked mightily this last season. That makes Virginia's Ryan Dunn an eye-catching prospect for them, as he could be the do-it-all defensive player the Bucks need.
The 6-foot-8 wing just had a monstrous defensive season, averaging an astounding 2.3 blocks and 1.3 steals per game while earning an ACC All-Defense nod. Dunn has the height and length to guard everyone from guards to big power forwards at the next level. He's also a strong rebounder, hauling in 6.9, including 2.2 on the offensive end, per game in 2023-24.
In the aforementioned NBA.com mock draft, Dunn was compared to Portland wing Matisse Thybulle. In The Athletic's mock draft from earlier this year (Subscription required), Sam Vecenie said that the youngster is as good as New Orleans' Herb Jones was defensively when he entered the league. Bucks fans have been clamoring for those two in trades, so it'd make sense to add a similar player.
The big concern with Dunn is his offensive output. He averaged just 8.1 points per game while hitting 20 percent of his outside shots and 53.2 percent of his free throws. With an essentially non-existent jump shot, there could be fit concerns with the youngster, especially next to Giannis Antetokounmpo. Yet, if he can be an elite defensive chess piece for the Milwaukee Bucks, it could be worth the gamble.
Tristan da Silva, Colorado
Sticking with lengthy forwards at the collegiate level, Colorado's Tristan da Silva is a fascinating name leading up to the NBA Draft since his stock has been all over the place. In the previously-mentioned draft from The Athletic, da Silva was mocked to go to the Bucks in the second round, but now, plenty of mocks have him going in the top 20.
The forward's rise on draft boards is largely due to a strong showing in the NCAA Tournament, where he averaged 18 points per game. Yet, he's been playing good basketball all season long, averaging a line of 16 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.1 steals per game across 34 NCAA contests.
The 23-year-old would be a nice fit with the Milwaukee Bucks. While he isn't the uber-athletic forward this team could use, he has plenty of boons. He's a strong perimeter shooter, a capable defender, and a solid scoring threat. At 6-foot-8, 200lbs, he's got nice size and could become a legitimate versatile weapon for the Bucks off of the bench.
At 23 and with four years of college experience under his belt, da Silva may be ready to find himself in the rotation from day one next season. Given Milwaukee's title aspirations, picking a more NBA-ready player over a potential project could be a massive, win-now move. The only question is whether or not he will be on the board when it's Milwaukee's turn to pick.
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