Realistic expectations for Bucks rookies AJ Johnson, Tyler Smith in year one

On a night that shocked many, the Milwaukee Bucks drafted a pair of 19 year olds on June 26.

Given Milwaukee's current title window, many thought the team would opt for more ready-now players who could help the Bucks sooner rather than later. Instead, the team now employs two youngsters in AJ Johnson and Tyler Smith who may need time to develop before getting on the court in consistent fashion for the Milwaukee Bucks.

Realistic expectations for the Bucks rookies

The odds of either rookie seeing prominent minutes under head coach Doc Rivers are incredibly slim. Rivers has always preferred to role with his veteran talent, an ideology that has come back to bite him here and there. Still, rather than the immediate development for his rookies, his main focus will be on helping the Milwaukee Bucks win an NBA championship.

Year one will be all about development and getting their feet wet for these two. They will spend their days surrounded by some of the most talented players in the entire league, including Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo. Johnson, a point guard, and Smith, a power forward, should stick close to those two masters of their craft and soak up as much knowledge as they can on a daily basis.

Though they likely won't see much time with the Bucks, Johnson and Smith will likely get game reps with the Wisconsin Herd, Milwaukee's G-League affiliate. While not the same beast as the NBA, they will earn the opportunity to suit up against league-level talent, earning significantly more reps and touches than they would with the current Milwaukee Bucks roster.

Rather than constantly being glued to Milwaukee's bench, playing with the Wisconsin Herd could be useful in helping these two rookies mature and develop.

Unless they will be catching Herd games, fans shouldn't expect to see much of these two during the upcoming 2024-25 campaign. Ultimately, the Milwaukee Bucks drafted these two in an attempt to extend their title window. It was a gutsy call by general manager Jon Horst, and time will tell if it pays off for the team down the line. In year one, though, answers will likely not come.

Year two is where things could get interesting for both AJ Johnson and Tyler Smith.

Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis.