In their latest mock draft and intel drop, HoopsHype currently has Dillon Jones of Weber State, the alma mater of Milwaukee Bucks star Damian Lillard, going at pick 36 to the Indiana Pacers.
While his current mock draft position isn't important for Milwaukee Bucks fans to know, it is worth noting that HoopsHype's Michael Scotto notes that Jones has several upcoming workouts, one of them being with the Bucks.
This isn't the first interest the Milwaukee Bucks have shown in Dillon Jones, either. Krysten Peek, an NBA Draft analyst for Yahoo Sports, reported in February that the Milwaukee Bucks were one of a handful of teams in attendance to watch Jones at Weber State.
What would Dillon Jones bring to the Milwaukee Bucks?
In the mock draft, HoopsHype has several quotes from Dillon Jones, during which he compares himself to Josh Hart.
“I think now, when you see Josh Hart how he’s killing it, I think it’s harder to find a better comparison for me than him, especially from where I’m scaling up to be in the NBA."
Having a player like Josh Hart who can do a little bit of everything is definitely an asset to any NBA team, which makes sense why so many turned out to watch his college games and are lining up to work him out.
In the 2024 NBA Playoffs, Josh Hart averaged 14.5 points, 11.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists while playing over 42 minutes per game. If that's who Dillon Jones is modeling his game after, that would be a welcoming addition to the Milwaukee Bucks, who hold the 33rd pick in the second round.
Comparing Dillon Jones size-wise to Josh Hart actually makes a good case for Jones also. Basketball Reference has Hart listed at 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds. ESPN currently has Jones listed at 6-foot-6 and 235 pounds.
If Dillon Jones can move around those 235 pounds in an agile way defensively, he could be a tank on the perimeter defending guards, small forwards and possibly even the occasional power forward.
Making this pick does call to mind the Milwaukee Bucks thinking of ways to defend Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum in the future. The same goes for the Indiana Pacers, who are loaded with young wing players, so it would make sense for the Bucks to grab another defensive wing to pair alongside Andre Jackson Jr. for the future.
Last season at Weber State, Jones averaged 20.8 points, 9.8 rebounds, 5.2 assists and two steals per game while shooting 48.9 percent on field goals, 32.4 percent on 3-pointers and 85.7 percent from the free throw line. While his 3-point shooting does leave something to be desired, it certainly isn't a deal breaker for an early second-round pick. The open looks he could benefit from playing with Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard and Khris Middleton could help his shooting.
In fact, Cyro Asseo tweeted from the NBA Combine that his 3-point shot is more consistent than people give him credit for and "reminds me of a thicker Royce O'Neale," another player comparison that is absolutely the type of skill set that the Milwaukee Bucks could put to use. Royce O'Neale has been one of the most consistent 3-and-D players in the NBA in the last half-decade or so.
The bottom line is for the Milwaukee Bucks to be scouting, working out and possibly selecting Dillon Jones, it's probably a more confidence-inducing pick than some prospects linked to the Bucks in mock drafts from major outlets.