It seems safe to say that not many Milwaukee Bucks fans had their jaws off the floor when it was announced they selected AJ Johnson 23rd overall.
To many, there were other prospects who would have fit a lot better and could have helped the team from day one next season. However, they instead opted to take a swing - a massive one at that - at a young prospect. The move has now created countless question marks, and let's break down three of the most prominent ones currently looming.
When will Johnson actually be able to contribute to the Bucks?
With the Milwaukee Bucks fully in win-now mode, everyone thought they would take a more seasoned prospect who could come in and help immediately. Instead, management took the complete opposite approach by adding a player who is just 19 years old and has plenty of question marks about when he may be ready to actually take an NBA court.
Johnson was among the rawest prospects in this entire draft class, which makes the decision to add him all the more puzzling. Yes, there is potential there, but how long until he's actually able to unearth it? One year? Two years? Even possibly three? Can the Milwaukee Bucks afford to wait that long with one of the oldest rosters in the NBA? The answer is likely not. Father Time is forever undefeated.
Bucks fans saw Doc Rivers typically not bat an eye at Milwaukee's young players last season, so the odds of him doing a heel turn with Johnson are slim. One could argue that Rivers' decision to rely on veterans was because he came in mid-season on the fly and rolled with experience, but the odds of him giving 19-year-old minutes remain far from a guarantee.
This writer would love to be proven wrong, but it feels as if Johnson is at least two years away from being able to make a legitimate impact at the NBA level.
How intriguing is Johnson's potential for the Bucks?
The Milwaukee Bucks clearly believe in Johnson's potential, even with aforementioned questions about how soon they can get it out of him.
There are indeed some things to like about Johnson. Standing at 6-foot-5 with a 6-foot-9 wingspan, Johnson has the height and length to pose problems for opponents at the next level, especially on the defensive end. He's an electrifying athlete who will certainly give the Bucks more athleticism, getting the team going on fastbreaks while also flying all over the court with his quickness.
Yet, again, he's young and may have to sit for a while to truly get a feel for the game. He also has to grow into his body, as he's a mere 167 pounds. That is not a typo. Bigger guards and wings are going to call open season on him whenever they have him matched up defensively. Hopefully he can get in the gym with Giannis Antetokounmpo and get a few tips about his insane body transformation.
The potential is there, and Johnson could end up being a nice player. However, potential isn't what the Bucks needed in this draft. If the Bucks were rebuilding, sure, this pick would make a lot more sense. Of course, that is not the case. Potential or not, Johnson's age and lackluster stats in the NBL don't exactly have many thinking the Milwaukee Bucks got significantly better here.
He could end up being a tremendous player, but the question is just how soon.
What will the Bucks now do in the second round?
After taking Johnson 23rd overall, the Milwaukee Bucks will now have the chance to add another piece via the 33rd pick, and they will have options.
For wings and forwards, a few names to go after are Bobi Klintman, Tyler Smith, Kevin McCullar Jr. and Harrison Ingram, among others. The center market is less bountiful, but a couple of names still on the board are Kyle Filipowski and Adem Bona. If the Milwaukee Bucks do want to add depth at one of their two prominent positions of need, they will have the opportunity.
Milwaukee could also trade the pick and shake up this roster a bit, which is what many thought they'd do with the first-round pick. With several notable players, including Brook Lopez, Pat Connaughton and Bobby Portis, all being mentioned in trade rumors, the front office may be plotting a move to patch some of the roster's prominent flaws. Rather than another gamble, that may be the way to go.
Unlike the first two questions, the good thing about this third one is that it will be answered soon, as the second round of the draft is scheduled for Thursday afternoon. Let's hope whatever the Bucks do with that pick is not as controversial as what they did with the 23rd selection.
Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis.