The Milwaukee Bucks will own the 23rd overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft and the Indiana Hoosiers might have a prospect available by the time Milwaukee picks. The NBA Draft will take place on Wednesday and Thursday. Milwaukee is making its final preparations for the 2024 NBA Draft.
Starting on Wednesday night, there will be more of a clear picture of what direction the Bucks will be taking this offseason. It will be interesting to see which route they decide to take and it would be surprising if they were to trade the pick. Milwaukee has been linked to different centers and wings for the 23rd overall pick.
Many players on the Bucks roster have also been linked to trade rumors already this offseason. Will some of those players also be traded on draft night? It remains to be seen.
Yahoo Sports Has the Milwaukee Bucks Selecting Indiana Hoosiers Center Kel’el Ware With the 23rd Overall Pick In the 2024 NBA Draft
Yahoo Sports released its final NBA Mock Draft before the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft takes place on Wednesday night. With the 23rd overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, they have the Milwaukee Bucks selecting Indiana Hoosiers center Kel’el Ware.
Ware is 6’7″ and weighs 223 lbs. During his sophomore season with the Hoosiers, he played in 30 games. Kel’el Ware averaged 15.9 PPG, 9.9 RPG, 1.5 APG, 1.9 BPG, and 0.6 SPG. He shot 42.5% from three-point land and also shot 58.6% from the field. Ware only shot 63.4% from the free-throw line.
Yahoo Sports Krysten Peek said about the Bucks taking the Indiana Hoosiers center:
“Ware is far from a finished product, but he made some huge strides at Indiana after his freshman year at Oregon. He’s so talented at his size and with his footwork in the paint, but some teams question his motor, leaving him as a possible steal in the 20s.”
He nearly averaged a double-double last season with Indiana. Kel’el Ware being the pick for the Milwaukee Bucks could signal the end of the Brook Lopez era.
Brook Lopez Could Be a Draft Night Trade If They Select a Center
Even if the Bucks did not select Kel’el Ware on Wednesday night and selected a different center, the writing is on the wall for Brook Lopez. He is 36 and will be a free agent after the 2025 season.
General manager Jon Horst needs to find players at the center position who will help Milwaukee immediately. If Kel’el Ware from the Indiana Hoosiers is selected for this franchise, he may end up starting as a rookie.
