The 2024 NBA Draft is rapidly approaching, and the Milwaukee Bucks will have the opportunity to add two young contributors to this roster.
If the Bucks opt to keep their draft picks - 23 and 33 - they could potentially find a hidden gem or two late in the first and early in the second. HoopsHype has established a workout tracker to manage the ever-growing list of prospects every team has checked out ahead of the draft, and the players the Bucks have worked out are certainly interesting.
That said, let us pick out the most eye-catching prospects by their position.
Point guard - Jared McCain, Duke
McCain is a combo guard, capable of playing both the point and shooting guard positions, but for the sake of this list, he'll occupy the floor general spot. What makes McCain interesting right off the bat is that he's by far the highest-rated prospect the Milwaukee Bucks have looked at so far, coming in at 14th on HoopsHype's workout tracker. The next highest is 31, who is the next player on this list.
The guard's most desirable attribute is undoubtedly his outside shot, drawing comparisons to strong shooters like Seth Curry. During his lone season at Duke, McCain shot 41.4 percent from deep on 5.8 attempts per contest. Sweet shooting like that would make him a seamless fit in Milwaukee, and he'd be on the receiving end of wide-open looks courtesy of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard.
Although he's not a pure floor general, McCain is also capable of handling the ball and making plays for others offensively. With Patrick Beverley's future in Milwaukee uncertain, the Bucks could use a young guard capable of taking the reigns as a secondary ball-handler, and McCain would be a quality option for the team to ponder.
Speaking of Beverley, McCain can also play some quality defense. At 6-foot-3, he's not the biggest guard, but he can hold his own when matched up against others at the position. He wouldn't come into the league as the resolution to Milwaukee's issue defensively, as he still has room to grow on that side of the ball, but he could certainly help the cause.
The odds of McCain being on the board when the Milwaukee Bucks are making their pick are slim, as he's been mocked to go in the teens in most drafts. It would be shocking if Milwaukee traded up, but crazier things have happened.
Shooting guard - Jaylon Tyson, California
California's Jaylon Tyson is projected to be a shooting guard or small forward at the next level, as he has the size for both. For the sake of this particular list, he will fall into the two-guard slot. The Bucks have reportedly worked out the versatile youngster ahead of the draft, and at the time of this writing, he's the second-highest-ranked prospect they've checked out on HoopsHype's tracker.
There's a ton to like about Tyson's potential fit in Milwaukee. First and foremost, he's 6-foot-6 and has shown shades of being able to match up against bigger wings, at least collegiately. For a Bucks team that has been starved of taller wing defenders over the years, adding a young one with boatloads of potential would not be the worst idea.
While the defense is undoubtedly captivating, Tyson's greatest strength may come on the other side of the court. He's an electric scorer, having averaged 19.6 points per game this past season, relying on his ability to self-create. Outside of Bobby Portis, the Bucks have lacked much shot creation off of their bench for years, so addressing it by adding Tyson could be incredibly justifiable.
If the Bucks are on the clock at 33 and Tyson's name has not been called, they should give some real thought in selecting him. His two-way impact could make him an immediate contributor to this bench brigade, giving them a go-to scorer and reliable defender on the wing. Really, he'd be knocking out three birds with one stone by adding defense, scoring and youth, all at 21 years old.
Small forward - Dillon Jones, Weber State
The Milwaukee Bucks should be doing homework on as many wings as possible ahead of the draft. Weber State's Dillon Jones helps begin to fill that quota, as he's a fascinating forward predicted to be selected somewhere in the second round.
Jones just finished his fourth season at Weber State, and it was undeniably his best, having averaged 20.8 points, 9.2 rebounds, 5.2 assists and two steals. The 2023-24 Big Sky Player of the Year did a bit of everything on the court from defending top-tier matchups to creating shots for his teammates to skying high for rebounds, showing off his versatility.
His build and defense should be of interest to the Bucks above all else. At 6-foot-6, 235-pounds, Jones has the size to play either forward position and defend a handful of positions at the next level. He was a tremendous defender at the college level, and he could fit in seamlessly with the Bucks on that side of things, helping shore up one of their biggest weaknesses.
Due to that versatility, Jones could be the small-ball power forward the Milwaukee Bucks have been on the hunt for since P.J. Tucker left in 2021. When Giannis Antetokounmpo slides to center, Jones could be the power forward, giving them a sturdy, young player who is not shy about matching up with other big forwards.
Jones already has ties to the Bucks, as he and Damian Lillard, who both went to Weber State, have a relationship with one another. That makes Jones all the more enticing, as having a veteran already on the team could help him get more comfortable and bring the best out of him at the NBA level.
Power forward - Keshad Johnson, Arizona
The Milwaukee Bucks need to get younger and more athletic while bolstering their forward depth this coming off-season. Enter Arizona's Keshad Johnson. Check. Check. Check.
The 224-pound Johnson stands at 6-foot-6 with an eye-catching 6-foot-10 wingspan. He possesses a build that allowed him to be an excellent defender in college, and it could translate to the NBA. He is also a tremendous rebounder, something that this Milwaukee Bucks team could clearly use more of after their effort against the Indiana Pacers in the NBA Playoffs (Yes, Giannis was out, but still).
Circling back to that entire small-ball four angle detailed in the previous section with Jones, Johnson could fill those same shoes. With his height, length, athletic ability and wingspan, Johnson has all of the tools to be an impactful defender in those switching situations. After watching the Bucks roll out smaller and unathletic defenders to try and replace Tucker, this would be a nice change of pace.
There are questions about what Johnson can bring offensively, as he didn't show much during his first four years of collegiate ball. However, this past season, he put together his best effort, boasting averages of 11.5 points and 1.8 assists while shooting 38.7 percent from three. If he could become a respectable outside shooter while also playing electric defense, he will have a home in the NBA.
Ironically, The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor compared Johnson to Jae Crowder, who just finished up his second season in Milwaukee, in his mock draft. If O'Connor is referring to the version of Crowder the Bucks thought they were getting when they traded for him, Johnson could be an seamless fit who helps this team from day one.
Center - Oso Ighodaro, Marquette
With Brook Lopez having just turned 36, the Milwaukee Bucks may need to start analyzing options as to who could become their next long-term center. Some will point to Bobby Portis, but he is more of a power forward masquerading as a center at times, and with him being mentioned in trade rumors, his time in Milwaukee may come to an end at any point.
If they are looking for a big, perhaps they could keep an eye on Marquette's Oso Ighodaro. To be fair, Ighodaro falls into this spot by default because he is the only listed center they have worked out thus far on HoopsHype's tracker. Still, that's not a knock, as there is plenty to like when discussing the big man who already has those Wisconsin ties.
Ighodaro was listed among the standout players at the 2024 NBA Combine, flexing his versatility and willingness to do all of the little things. He's a versatile defender for a big man, capable of playing in a switching scheme and taking on players of all shapes and sizes. That's an area where Portis and Lopez have struggled, so he could certainly help.
The prominent concern with Ighoraro is his height, as he is a tad undersized to be playing center at the NBA level, standing around 6-foot-9. He's also not much of an outside threat, having attempted a mere two triples during his four-year stay in college. For a team that has surrounded their superstar with perimeter threats like Lopez and Portis, Ighodaro could have a tough time filling that role.
He wouldn't be a seamless fit, but Ighodaro does possess potential at the NBA level.
Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis.