The Milwaukee Bucks did not do what many expected them to during the 2024 NBA Draft. With Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard under contract for at least one more year (Lillard has a player option for the 2025-26 season), many believed they would either use their draft picks to select players that could help them right away or package their picks in a trade for an immediate impact player.
Instead, the Bucks took AJ Johnson in the first round (23rd overall pick) and Tyler Smith in the second round (33rd overall pick). Both players were surprising selections by Milwaukee as both are just 19 years old and, by all accounts, not close to being able to contribute to an NBA roster right away.
Many Bucks fans were clearly upset with general manager Jon Horst, going as far as to accuse him of sabotaging the team after they blocked him from interviewing with the Detroit Pistons earlier this spring. However, one NBA analyst is an especially big fan of their second-round pick, going as far as to give them an incredibly high grade for making Smith their selection.
The Milwaukee Bucks Get an A- for Taking Tyler Smith in the 2024 NBA Draft
In his article grading each second-round pick of the 2024 NBA Draft, analyst Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report had high praise for the Bucks and their selection of Tyler Smith:
“With the Bucks needing a replacement for Brook Lopez sooner than later, they were linked to Tyler Smith in some mock drafts, oftentimes 10 spots earlier (where they wound up taking AJ Johnson). Getting Smith here instead only increases the value of this sharpshooting big man with interesting upside on defense.
“With the right kind of leap ahead of him, Smith could be a real find. He pairs a potent perimeter shot with athletic finishing around the basket, and he has the physical foundation to become both a paint protector and a versatile perimeter switcher.
“Smith just needs more polish, both physically and skill-wise. He isn’t powerful enough to man the 5, but he lacks the skill to play the 4.
“Smith is a project, but he could absolutely be one worth undertaking for Milwaukee.”
Grade: A-
As mentioned, Smith is just 19 years old and is a few years away from being able to be a regular contributor to an NBA roster. However, his size and three-point shooting abilities make him a high-ceiling prospect who could fill Brook Lopez’s role in a few years.
Milwaukee Bucks Draft Pick Tyler Smith Played for the G-League Ignite in 2023-24
Last season was the first year that Smith played professional basketball. Playing for the G-League Ignite, he averaged 14.3 points while shooting 48/35/74 from the field. He also averaged 5.2 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.0 steals, and 0.8 blocks.
Currently six-foot-eleven, Smith may not be done growing yet. By the time that he is ready to join the Bucks’ regular rotation, he could be well over seven feet tall. His size, athleticism, and shooting ability could make him one of the more versatile players on the team.
Hopefully Giannis is still around when he becomes ready because the pair could be an awfully exciting duo.
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