With one week to go before the June 23 NBA Draft, the Milwaukee Bucks have a wildly uncertain plight, given the machinations surrounding a possible Giannis Antetokounmpo trade.
Will they still have the No. 10 pick when that night begins? Will they have multiple picks? Will they have entirely different needs than they do now?
A glance at the most recent mock drafts from major sports media outlets offer a series of avenues the Bucks could take:
Labaron Philon Jr., guard, Alabama
Matt Norlander, CBS Sports: “This is the top end of Philon’s range (with No. 22 probably being the worst-case scenario), but I’m going bullish on the Bama sophomore due to his blitzing speed, devilish playmaking and nothing-loath mindset as a passer. He’s slender but draws contact and jumps from third gear to fifth gear in a blip. Can score at all three levels, and probably will benefit from a pro scheme to emphasize his spacing acuity. Milwaukee has shown serious interest, but given the uncertainty with the franchise’s pick depending on what happens with Giannis, this draft slot is as foggy as any you’ll find in the lottery. Philon would inject some fun into a franchise transitioning toward a new era.”
Nate Ament, forward, Tennessee
Jeremy Woo, ESPN: “Ament’s draft range has remained on the wider side. The Nets at No. 6 are seen as the realistic high end, but scenarios are also in play in which he falls into the second half of the lottery. Teams say he has been selective about scheduling workouts, declining to visit multiple teams in the top 10. From a best-available perspective, Ament should be in play for the Bucks.
“What strategy Milwaukee takes could depend on how many picks it winds up with and where, but the Bucks have an obvious need for backcourt talent and also could target a guard. They are also familiar with the next tier of point guards, including Christian Anderson and Labaron Philon Jr., and could address the position later in the draft if they acquire additional picks.”
Kingston Flemings, guard, Houston
Kevin O’Connor, Yahoo! Sports: “The Bucks should take a swing to jump start their new era, whether or not Giannis is part of it. Flemings could be that type of bet since he plays with surgical midrange touch, an explosive first step and the passing vision of a true point guard who can run an offense. But Flemings is also 183 pounds and midrange-heavy in a 3-point league, and he watched his efficiency crater against the stiffest competition late in the season. The question is whether his scoring package translates against NBA length and spacing, or whether opposing scouts figure him out the same way late-season defenses did. Still, he brings incredible effort and passion to the floor and will likely maximize whatever he’s going to become.”
Aday Mara, center, Michigan
Bryan Kalbrosky, USA TODAY: “While leading his team to win the NCAA championship, Aday Mara became one of the prospects who helped himself the most during March Madness. The 7-foot-3 big man, who transferred from UCLA, is a fantastic rim protector. Opponents only attempted 20.4 percent of their field goals at the rim when the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year was on the court, per CBB Analytics, which ranks near the lowest among all NCAA players. He could potentially hear his name called even higher than this, too, as teams look for large defenders like Mara (who measured with a 9-foot-9 standing reach) as front offices value bigger bodies to throw at Victor Wembanyama.”
Mikel Brown Jr., guard, Louisville
Sam Vecenie, The Athletic: “The Bucks have certainly been doing due diligence into the lead guards, including Flemings, Anderson, Labaron Philon Jr. and Brown. I’ve also heard Hannes Steinbach’s name as an option here. But with the potential for Giannis Antetokounmpo’s departure, it makes sense for the Bucks to go with as high an upside swing as possible. Brown is a dynamic playmaker with the ball who can play in ball screens, make high-level passing reads and shoot. However, his decision-making can be questionable at times while trying to hit home runs, and his scoring inside of 15 feet has left some scouts with questions.”
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Who might Bucks draft? From mocks, here are 5 players and their impact
Reporting by JR Radcliffe, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By JR Radcliffe, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | USA TODAY Network
