The Milwaukee Bucks will have two picks, one in each round, in the upcoming 2024 NBA Draft.
If they hang onto those picks rather than trade them and do proceed to select two new youngsters, the front office has to strike gold. No matter what positions they decide to address, the team simply cannot mess this up, given Milwaukee's title aspirations and limited avenues to improve. Thankfully, it appears they are not leaving any stone unturned in doing homework on countless draft prospects.
HoopsHype has established a workout tracker to keep track of which teams are looking into specific players as the draft nears. With all of that said, let's break down the five highest-ranked prospects the Milwaukee Bucks have worked out thus far.
*Rankings are what they were at the time of this writing and can change*
Ryan Dunn, Virginia, Ranked 24th
For a team that struggled so mightily on the defensive end this past season, it's clear why the Bucks could use a player like Ryan Dunn.
To many, he's clearly the best defender in the entire draft, which should be music to Milwaukee's ears. The Bucks could undeniably use a 6-foot-8 defender who can essentially take on any matchup on the floor and play multiple positions when called upon. He possesses the type of versatility defensively this team has lacked since P.J. Tucker walked out the door nearly three years ago.
Why Dunn is down on so many draft boards is his offensive output. This past season, he averaged a mere 8.1 points while shooting 20 percent from deep and 53.2 percent from the foul line. Many aren't sure that type of production will cut it at the next level, despite the strong defense. In this case, many don't love Dunn's fit next to Giannis Antetokounmpo due to the lack of floor spacing.
Sure, Dunn wouldn't be a seamless fit in Milwaukee, but the defensive presence he possesses might just be too good to pass up on if he's still on the board.
Tyler Kolek, Marquette, Ranked 22nd
This might be the most surprising player the Bucks have worked out. With such a prominent need for center and wing depth, it was eye-catching to see one of the premier point guards listed among the workout attendees, but it makes sense for the Bucks to do their homework on everyone.
On the offensive side of things, there's no doubt that Kolek could be an interesting fit. He could be the backup point guard to Damian Lillard, orchestrating the offense when needed. The guard put up 7.7 assists per game this past season, flexing his facilitating prowess while also posting 15.3 points while shooting 38.8 percent from deep. He could be a solid backup point guard offensively.
The concerns with Kolek begin on the defensive end. He's never been a stout defender, and standing at 6-foot-3, 182 pounds, he could be taken advantage of by larger players at the next level. Does that sound familiar? Milwaukee has battled this problem year after year in recent memory, with smaller players getting picked on defensively by opposing big wings. Kolek would not help that issue.
Some might point out that it may be hypocritical for this writer to knock Kolek's size when there have been countless articles about why Kris Dunn - also 6-foot- 3 - would be a good fit in Milwaukee. On the surface, sure, but Dunn is among the most underrated defenders in the game today, even at his size. Kolek is not. He'd be a bit of a head-scratcher at 23.
Kel'el Ware, Indiana, Ranked 19th
This might be the fan-favorite pick, and rightfully so. With so much chatter brewing about the future of Brook Lopez and what the Milwaukee Bucks need to do at the center position, bringing in a piece like Kel'el Ware could be a fitting resolution.
He's an incredibly intriguing prospect due to his athleticism and mobility at 7-feet tall, as he flies all over the court for rebounds or to swat shots into the stands. Of course, mobility and athleticism are two things the Milwaukee Bucks haven't had too much of at the position over the past few years with Brook Lopez and Bobby Portis manning the center spot. A dose of both could do this team good.
Whether he's replacing Lopez or playing behind him, Ware would give the Bucks an option to play a more versatile style of defense outside of the drop scheme, something The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor reports they'd like to do. He's also a quality floor spacer at his size, shooting 42.5 percent from long distance in 2023-24, which would make him a nice fit next to Giannis Antetokounmpo.
If Ware is miraculously still on the board when the Bucks are on the clock, they should swoop him up. For a team that has had question marks at the center position over the past few years and has relied on aging veterans - Serge Ibaka, Robin Lopez, Danilo Gallinari, etc. - it would be a nice change to bring in a potential-filled youngster.
Jared McCain, Duke, Ranked 15th
The odds of Jared McCain still being on the board when it's Milwaukee's turn to pick are slim to none, so they'd likely have to trade up to get him - that should not be ruled out. Being ranked 15th did not deter the team from working him out, so they clearly liked something about his game.
There is plenty of appeal with McCain. He's a combo guard, meaning he can play both the point and two guard, which would give the Bucks some needed versatility. He's one of the best shooters in this entire draft class, having shot 41.8 percent from deep on 5.8 attempts per game last season. That type of stroke would help him fit right in alongside Milwaukee's stars.
Defensively, he's got potential to hold his own against other guards at the NBA level, but again, he's another 6-foot-3 player who could have trouble against those big wings, especially with a wingspan around the same length. Furthermore, he also doesn't possess a ton of athleticism for a young player, one of the prominent needs for the Bucks as they retool the roster.
Bucks fans shouldn't get their hopes up about seeing the Blue Devil don a green jersey next season, barring a surprise trade-up.
Zach Edey, Purdue, Ranked 14th
Bucks fans have been talking about the possibility of welcoming Zach Edey to Milwaukee's center rotation for months now. With him ranked so high - the highest-ranked prospect the Bucks have worked out to his point - he likely will not be available when Milwaukee is up. Yet, as just mentioned, if they like him enough, a trade-up is possible.
While Ware would offer a more versatile style of defense, selecting Edey would signal the Bucks are more than fine with sticking with the drop defense. At 7-foot-4, 285-pounds, Edey is certainly not the most agile big man; he won't be switching out on the perimeter and sticking with elite wing scorers. Right at the hoop, he could be a defensive menace, but teams will look to pull him out of there.
Offensively, Edey's fit in Milwaukee would be wonky. One of the reasons why Brook Lopez has fit so well has been his outside shooting. Edey attempted just two triples in four years of college. Sure, he could look to develop a perimeter shot like Lopez did, but the odds of Edey becoming an outside shooter on the level of Brook Lopez are incredibly slim. That could pose significant problems.
With that aforementioned report from The Ringer, it feels like the Bucks will pursue players who possess more athleticism like Ware rather than those like Edey if they are looking at centers.
Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis.