The (43-24) Milwaukee Bucks are playing good basketball right now. Even with the regular season in full swing, it is still fun to look at some early possible draft picks, especially since the Bucks have a couple of picks in this summer’s NBA draft.
In what is widely regarded as a “down year” for drafting new players, it is still great news for Bucks fans that these draft assets exist. The Bucks’ bench has been concerning at times so this will be great for adding some young runners.
With that in mind, Milwaukee will look to draft “the best player available”.
The Bucks have a first-round draft pick to use. That pick will be determined by their record entering the playoffs. Unlike the NFL draft, the NBA cuts off draft order before a champion is crowned.
Just for fun, here is a picture from when the Bucks drafted Giannis!
The Bucks also have the Portland TrailBlazers second-round pick which seems like it will be a higher second-rounder (projected to be around pick 35.)
It is nice to know that the Bucks have some picks. Lots of NBA teams have moved out of the first round of this year’s draft. The Clippers, Kings, Warriors, Nets, Mavericks, and Lakers do not have a first-round pick in the draft.
The Dame Lillard trade will not impact this year’s draft.
Kevin O’Conner of “The Ringer” recently released his Mock Draft. There they have the Bucks taking Zach Edey of Purdue.
The Bucks and Zach Edey
Kevin O’Conner of “The Ringer” has the Bucks taking Edy for a number of reasons. In his piece he calls him, “Ivan Zubic-like”.
The 7’4” center is probably a very familiar name to many Bucks fans. Here, the thinking would have to be to look at Edey as a potential replacement for Brook Lopez in a year or two.
“You can’t coach size” as the expression goes and that is certainly something Edey has.
But does he have the ability to move fluidly? Sure he scored 30 points against Michigan State but he looked more like a bully than someone equipped for today’s step-back NBA game.
Kevin O’Conner describes him as:
Hard-to-stop interior scorer, not just because of his sheer size but also because of his skill and touch. He does a great job of using his massive frame to seal off positioning and make himself available for interior feeds. He doesn’t have advanced footwork, but his gigantic presence is enhanced by his agility.
Willingly embraces his role, whether playing limited minutes as an underclassman or running the offense through him as a junior and senior. Playing for the Canadian national team last summer, he fully took on responsibility as a screener, something Purdue doesn’t ask of him as often as post-ups.
Of course, the idea of drafting him is intriguing and it is why he seems to be rising up on most NBA mock draft boards.
The NBA draft is all about finding value and this year, with the draft extending out over two nights, it is all about spectacle. If you have plans to watch the draft with some buddies, here are some fun facts.
Related: What will the Bucks record be?
Some other odd drafts facts
The Milwaukee Bucks do not appear to have any draft pick in next year’s (2025) NBA draft.
The Bucks would have to swap picks with New Orleans if, for some reason, Milwaukee goes on a huge losing streak and New Orleans goes on a huge winning streak. The Pelicans have a potential pick swap with Milwaukee from the Jrue Holiday trade.
Teams in this year’s draft seemed to trade away a lot of their picks but still every team in this draft has at least one pick.
The Bucks have had a few number one overall picks: Andrew Bogut in 2005, Glenn Robinson in 1994, and Kent Benson in 1997. Of course drafting Kareem Abdul-Jabbar #1 overall in 1969 helped put the team on the path to its first NBA championship.
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