5 Rookies the Bucks will regret not drafting after summer league
By Tyler Watts
The Milwaukee Bucks found a way to add a few key rotation pieces, despite having just minimum contracts to offer in free agency. They have the top-end talent, but Milwaukee needs depth and better health to be a serious title contender.
The Bucks are focused on winning, which made this year’s draft choices shocking. They took AJ Johnson with the 23rd overall pick. The 6’4 guard weighed just 167 lbs. at the combine, which was the second lightest player. Milwaukee added another project in Tyler Smith with the 33rd overall pick.
Johnson and Smith both had their struggles in the Las Vegas summer league as the Bucks went winless. Smith played just 21.9 minutes and shot 40.0 percent from the field. Johnson got a bit more run, but connected on less than 33 percent of his shots and had nearly as many turnovers as assists. Johnson's athletic ability pops, but it will take multiple years before he is ready. The Bucks certainly have regrets after watching these players shine in Vegas.
5. Tyler Kolek
The 6’3 guard was one of the best players in summer league. He averaged 7.0 assists and just 1.4 turnovers over five games in Sin City. Kolek made passes all over the floor and looked ready to immediately jump into an NBA rotation, despite being the 34th overall selection in the 2024 draft.
He kept improving over his four years in college and looked to have taken another step in Vegas. Kolek averaged 9.6 points but shot just 35.6 percent from the field. It is a small sample and the teams had limited practice time. The 23-year-old hit some clutch shots and displayed plenty of offensive potential.
The Bucks went for upside, but Tyler Kolek looked better than AJ Johnson during summer league. One is multiple years away from cracking an NBA rotation and the other may be ready for minutes right now. A contender should want another quality rotation option, but Milwaukee chose upside.
Kolek had the Bucks questioning their draft choice, and he was not the only older prospect who shined in summer league.