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Milwaukee Bucks: Implications of the 2017 NBA Draft Lottery

By Josh Cornelissen

Jun 23, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Thon Maker walks to the stage after being selected as the number ten overall pick to the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 23, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Thon Maker walks to the stage after being selected as the number ten overall pick to the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 1, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Orlando Magic guard Elfrid Payton (4) controls a loose ball past Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) in the closing seconds of the game at Wells Fargo Center. The Orlando Magic won 103-101. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 1, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Orlando Magic guard Elfrid Payton (4) controls a loose ball past Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) in the closing seconds of the game at Wells Fargo Center. The Orlando Magic won 103-101. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

Milwaukee’s competition wasn’t helped out

The Milwaukee Bucks are currently in the catbird seat out East. While the Cleveland Cavaliers aren’t going anywhere, and the Boston Celtics have the ammunition to sustain success for a long time, the middle of the Eastern Conference is uncertain and vulnerable.

The Bucks have a young superstar surrounded by complementary talent, players with upside and a general manager that continues to make smart moves. The Chicago Bulls, Indiana Pacers and Atlanta Hawks cannot check all of those boxes.

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With the middle class in the East vulnerable to change, the Bucks have to beat out the other young up-and-coming teams to rise the fastest in the East. The Philadelphia 76ers have the best collection of young talent, and did walk away from the draft with the third overall pick. But they have to wait until next season to receive the Los Angeles Lakers’ first-rounder, delaying the true realization of their talent level.

The Orlando Magic likewise lost out by the Los Angeles Lakers keeping their pick. Instead of receiving a 2019 first round pick from the Lakers, the Magic now have to be satisfied with a pair of second-rounders. They also dropped back to sixth in the draft order, yet again failing to move up in the lottery.

Other Eastern Conference teams outside this year’s playoff picture went without any help as well, with the New York Knicks falling back to eighth and the Charlotte Hornets, Detroit Pistons and Miami Heat staying put. Chicago even had an infinitesimal chance to take Sacramento’s pick, but that did not pan out. Although Milwaukee had no way of moving up in the draft order, none of their direct competition did either.

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