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NBA’s Future: Which Teams Shine Brightest

By Zack Geoghegan

The Timberwolves boast a trio of young stars in Zach LaVine, Andrew Wiggins, and Karl Anthony-Towns. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
The Timberwolves boast a trio of young stars in Zach LaVine, Andrew Wiggins, and Karl Anthony-Towns. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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NBA: Milwaukee Bucks at Minnesota Timberwolves
NBA: Milwaukee Bucks at Minnesota Timberwolves /

2. Milwaukee Bucks

The future of the Milwaukee Bucks may actually be happening right now.

Coming into the season, the Bucks weren’t expected by most (including me) to show any signs that they could make a playoff push this season. The loss of Khris Middleton in the offseason really put a damper on any playoff talk, but the Bucks responded by winning … and winning a lot.

The Bucks are currently 20-18, which is good enough for fifth in the Eastern Conference, and it is due in large part to the improving play of the NBA’s next superstar, Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Giannis is averaging 23.2 points, 8.8 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game while shooting 52 percent from the field. At 6’11”, his incredibly lengthy arms and long body allow him to shoot, pass and rebound over just about anyone.

He can play/defend any position on offense or defense without worry. At 22 years old, Giannis has the ability to take over the NBA, to do the same things that players such as LeBron James and Michael Jordan did (or even couldn’t do).

While Giannis is a talent that the NBA has never seen before, he isn’t the only reason the Bucks are playing well. The improved play of Jabari Parker has created a scoring duo in Milwaukee that is hard to compete with on a nightly basis.

Parker, who is younger than Giannis at 21 years old, is averaging more than 20 points per game while shooting almost 50 percent from the field, but the number that really sticks out is how quickly he has improved his 3-point shooting.

In his first two seasons, Parker averaged 25 percent from long range on 0.5 attempts per game. This year he’s shooting 42 percent from 3 while taking 3.5 attempts per game.

The surprising play of rookie Malcolm Brogdon has given the Bucks a point guard that they can go forward with in the future (sorry, Matthew Dellavedova). Even Tony Snell has improved since being traded from the Bulls earlier in the year, turning himself into the 3-and-D guy he should be.

Greg Monroe has improved in his new role off the bench as John Henson has become a much-improved player on defense; however, his physicality is still an issue.

Other young guys such as Rashad Vaughn and Thon Maker have yet to see enough court time to predict them as players. Maker’s unique skill set alone will get him playing time, whether or not he can utilize it is yet to be seen.

Head coach Jason Kidd has had a roller coaster start to his head coaching career, but it would appear that he knows what he’s doing.

His decision to bench Monroe and make Giannis the primary ball-handler seemed hasty at the time, but both moves have positively benefited the team.

The Bucks, a team that was suppose to be in rebuilding mode, have an offense that is currently ranked eighth in Offensive Rating, while their Defensive Rating is 15th in the league.

As far as future draft picks, they don’t have many, but with how far ahead of schedule they are without their best shooter, Middleton, puts the Bucks in a great spot in the East going forward.