The 2024 NBA Draft is coming soon and teams around the league are going to be using their picks to improve for next season. The same logic applies to the Milwaukee Bucks and there’s a good reason why they should keep those picks rather than trade them away.
A glaring issue that plagued the Milwaukee Bucks last season was their lack of youthful energy. The team often appeared sluggish and slow, which can be attributed to their older roster.
The Bucks had the second-oldest average age in the league at 28.8 years old. Additionally, five of their top eight players in terms of minutes played were over 30 years old. Surprisingly, not a single player under the age of 27 logged more than 700 minutes on the court for the Bucks. In essence, the team is composed of aging players.
While having an experienced roster can be advantageous for a win-now team, as it typically consists of reliable veterans, it also comes with drawbacks. Throughout the season, the Bucks struggled with their transition defense against younger opponents.
Introducing young rookies into the mix could provide the team with the much-needed infusion of vitality and athleticism. However, the effectiveness of this approach relies heavily on the immediate impact of the drafted players. If the picks pan out and contribute right away, it could address the Bucks’ need for youthful energy and enhance their overall performance.
Another Reason Why The Milwaukee Bucks Must Keep Their 2024 NBA Draft Picks
Another reason for the Bucks’ front office to keep their picks in the 2024 NBA Draft is to find a cheap and young replacement for center Brook Lopez. Nathan Marzion explains more in an article he wrote for Behind The Buck Pass.
“It is no secret that Brook Lopez’s time with the Bucks is nearing an end. At age 36, Lopez is entering the last year of his contract, and while he has still been very impactful in recent years, it is likely that after next season, the Bucks will be going in another direction. If that is the case, the Bucks will need to find a new big man at some point between now and the 2025-26 season.
However, they don’t have the cap space to sign anyone good in free agency, and there aren’t many current big men who have the combination of rim protection and floor spacing that Lopez provides. If the Bucks don’t see any big man options out there that they like currently, it would make some sense for them to draft a big with one of their picks this season and then let that guy develop for a year so that he can take over for Lopez in 2025-26,” Marzion wrote.
Milwaukee has been ravaged by injuries during the past few years, most notably the duo Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard missing the most recent playoffs. Adding youth via the draft and giving these young stars a chance to develop can give them more talent on the court, as long as head coach Doc Rivers provides them with enough opportunities to play.
It remains to be seen whether Milwaukee uses its two picks in the draft or not. In any case, Jon Horst and the front office are going to be busy in the coming weeks to make the most out of these assets.
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