The Milwaukee Bucks, after years of missing on countless draft picks, have to get this next one right. It's not every day that you have a top-10 pick in one of the most stacked classes. Whether they want to contend or rebuild, nailing this pick is essential. Who should they take? The writers from Behind The Buck Pass gathered to talk about their picks for this class at No. 10.
Looking at Bucks' options
Dalton Sell: With no clear answer on Giannis Antetokounmpo's future yet, it's hard to say, but Brayden Burries is a rare player who fits either timeline. His combine measurements weren't the best, but that shouldn't take away from his do-it-all ability. For a Bucks team that has a lot of question marks in the backcourt, Brayden Burries could instantly be a good fit, giving them someone who is a bit older than others in this draft class but is also still just 20. With or without Giannis, he fits.
John Sbisa: I can't think of a better realistic scenario than Arizona freshman Brayden Burries falling to the Bucks at No. 10. Here is a two-way guard with size and tenacity on defense and an all-around offensive tool kit. His assists were low in college (2.4 per game), but so were his turnovers (1.5 per game). He shot it efficiently from all over the floor, including 39 percent from three.
Burries averaged 16 points per night on a consistent basis. He's a good rebounder for his position. Although Burries is a combo guard, not a point guard, he feels like a great fit alongside Ryan Rollins in the Bucks' starting backcourt of the future.
Ben Rauman: If he lasts to pick 10, I’d go Mikel Brown Jr. here. He has plus size for a lead guard at 6-foot-5, and despite shooting just 34.4 percent from behind the arc in his lone season at Louisville, he showcased deep NBA three-point range and shot nearly 10 three-point attempts per 36 minutes on a difficult shot diet. Combine that with a tight handle, crafty rim finishing, creative live dribble passing, and a strong free-throw rate, and he has a lot of star upside indicators.
Mikel will need to improve his overall decision-making and shot selection at the pro level, and his defensive consistency leaves something to be desired, but landing with a coach like Taylor Jenkins, with his history of player development, could be a great match. Regardless of whether Giannis stays in Milwaukee next season, the Bucks need to capitalize on the rare opportunity to select a lottery-level talent in a deep draft by swinging on some star-level upside.
Lots of love for Lendeborg
Will Moxon: I think the biggest need for the Bucks is at the wing position, and that lands me at Yaxel Lendeborg. He is the opposite of their recent draft strategy; coming in as an older prospect, he is more than ready for the NBA. I'm a big fan of his versatility and his threat as a shooter. If they re-sign Ousmane Dieng, then that puts the wing position in a good spot.
There has been a lot of noise in mock drafts around Nate Ament at 10. I'm not sure I'm entirely sold on him. His ceiling is perhaps higher than Lendeborg's, but he also has a lower floor and isn't as ready to make an immediate impact. Finally, I wouldn't be opposed to them taking one of the many talented guards if they are still on the board at 10, but the first name on my list would be Lendeborg.
Jackson Gordon: Yaxel Lendeborg. Despite being 24 years old entering the draft Lendeborg offers the type of skillset that every NBA team values. He is big at 6 foot 9 with a 7 foot 4 wingspan which would allow him to guard at a high level (something Milwaukee has desperately needed). He's also a very good shooter, 82.4 percent at the free throw line and 37.2 percent from three. He's a player that immediately would help the Bucks next season whether they have Giannis on the roster or not.
Adam Zippan: Yaxel Lendeborg. He is a player who could thrive under Taylor Jenkins. He brings versatile defense and sneaky playmaking. He’s the type of high-IQ player who doesn't need the ball to be effective, which makes him a great "plug-and-play" option next to high-usage stars such as Giannis.
Franco Luna: Yaxel Lendeborg makes too much sense for the Bucks at No. 10. I think he's the most NBA-ready player you can get at that range while being a relatively complete player. He can help them win now, convince Giannis to stay, while also giving them a future piece to develop and look forward to. His size solves the problems they have at the wing position while giving them the versatility to plug him into different lineups.
The Bucks are stuck between trying to win now and preparing for an uncertain future. Lendeborg checks both boxes better than almost anyone projected in that range while addressing actual roster problems. Milwaukee needs size, athleticism, and versatility on the wing, and Lendeborg brings all three. He can guard multiple positions, rebound, push the ball in transition, and function in different lineup combinations without breaking the offense. Whether the Bucks want to go big, switch-heavy, or faster, he fits.
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