The Milwaukee Bucks, despite enduring their second first-round exit in a row, are still very much a force to be reckoned with.
That’s just always going to be true for any team with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard onboard, no matter how humbling and heartbreaking the past two playoff exits have been.
That said, given how the on-court product looked for most of this past season, questions will no doubt remain about their depth, defense and overall balance. Whether due to age or circumstance, the reality is that as it currently stands, the Milwaukee Bucks have found themselves in a position where the quantity of their serviceable rotation pieces matters just as much as the quality.
Say what you want about the injury situation, but they just didn't have the firepower to get past the Indiana Pacers at the end of the day.
The Bucks have interesting choices ahead of the NBA Draft
Doubts have been raised about just how much a package of their two late picks, along with the likes of Pat Connaughton, could actually yield in return this offseason. It's unclear if moves involving Bobby Portis and Brook Lopez will be explored by the front office. One option that should still be on the table despite the team’s rather shoddy draft history as of late is using the draft picks themselves and developing the roster from within.
That's not a direction the Bucks have seen much success with in this current era of Milwaukee basketball, but the 2024 NBA Draft legitimately offers exciting possibilities to solidify their championship aspirations. This writer argues that Milwaukee’s slowly-closing championship window necessitates strategic drafting. Here are four prospects that fit the bill.