The 2024 NBA Draft is now a month away. Publications and websites are finalizing their mock drafts following the NBA Draft Combine coming to an end on May 19. Some teams will be looking for that franchise-defining player who can change their trajectory. The Milwaukee Bucks, however, will be looking to add prospects who can complement their team and help them reach their goal of winning another title in 2025.
In this year's draft, the Bucks have it slightly different compared to recent years, as they possess a late first-round pick (23rd) and a second-round pick (33rd) courtesy of the Portland Trail Blazers.
The roster is in desperate need of freshening up but with younger players. Entering the season, the Bucks had the oldest roster in the league with an average age of 28.21 years old. Eight of the players on the roster are over 31, and with some role players heading into free agency, the draft could be the perfect opportunity to add some youth and athleticism to the team.
The Bucks and the 2024 NBA Draft
The roster does have young players who can contribute in A.J Green, Andre Jackson Jr. and MarJon Beauchamp, who have all contributed in the last two seasons. Yet, whether Doc Rivers and the front office see them as potential consistent role players is up to them.
Chris Livingston is another name to monitor. He was the final pick in the 2023 draft and signed the biggest deal for a final pick in the NBA Draft ever, so they have belief in his talent. Yet, he featured in just 21 games this past season.
All four of those named play the wing position, so the Bucks may look to add to the backcourt or frontcourt in the draft. Brook Lopez is 35 years old and is heading into the final year of his contract, so a center to take over in the long term could be on their radar.
Behind Damian Lillard, Cameron Payne started the season as the backup point guard before being traded for Patrick Beverley, who is a free agent and turns 36 in July. The guard position is another area that will need addressing.
Defense was a concern early in the season under Adrian Griffin, but Doc Rivers soon got it back to a decent level at the expense of the offense. Adding a two-way player at the guard position would be of great use to the Bucks. Malik Beasley, another free agent, struggled in the final weeks of the season, where he found himself coming off the bench, and those issues carried over into the postseason.
The mock drafts all have the Bucks going very similar routes in the first round as they look to address the backup center position and then go for a guard or wing in the second round. Here, we take a look at the mock drafts from ESPN, The Ringer and Bleacher Report to rank the selections they predict the Bucks will go with.