The Milwaukee Bucks won the NBA Championship last week. However, the front office doesn’t have much time to celebrate as they’ve had to get back to work right away. The NBA Draft is already coming up on Thursday, only one week after Milwaukee’s championship parade. The only pick that Milwaukee holds going into Thursday night’s draft is pick #31. Who should the Bucks target with that pick? One option is West Virginia’s Miles McBride.
McBride Can Shoot
McBride played two years of college basketball at West Virginia. While his Freshman season wasn’t the best, McBride took huge strides to improve his shooting in his Sophomore season. McBride improved his 3-point percentage to 41.4% in his second year, while shooting 81.3% from the free throw line as well. His outside shooting ability fits in perfect with a Bucks team that usually has great spacing on offense. 
Defense
In addition to his ability to space the floor, McBride is a tremendous defender. McBride is an extremely physical defender that can play great on-ball and off-ball defense. His ability to force turnovers can cause problems for opposing teams. In the 2020-2021 college basketball season, McBride averaged 1.9 steals per game. His skill to pick up players full court would be great for the Bucks when Jrue Holiday needs a rest.
Some Miles McBride point of attack defense. He doesn't allow any separation pic.twitter.com/JSxS9M1TzM
— Emiliano (@EmilianoNaiar8) February 2, 2020
Versatility
McBride is not locked in to only playing the point guard position. He can play either guard spot due to his shooting ability. Being able to play both spots could help the Bucks manage the minutes of their guards better. Both Jrue Holiday and Donte DiVincenzo would be able to go to the bench when they need a breather and have a reliable option to fill their roles. Playing multiple positions could be useful for the Bucks if foul trouble or rest is needed.
Photo by Caylie Silveira
Final Thoughts
If he is available when the Bucks are on the clock, McBride should be an option that Milwaukee seriously considers. With a mentor like Jrue Holiday, McBride’s defense could only continue to get better and possibly have a passing of the torch from Holiday in the future. He could have a role on a championship roster next season similar to how Donte DiVincenzo was used in his first two seasons. There is never time to rest on your laurels after a championship season. Selecting McBride would show that the Bucks are serious about remaining contenders in future seasons.
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