Milwaukee Bucks: Implications of the 2017 NBA Draft Lottery
Shooters could fall
One weakness that was highlighted during the Milwaukee Bucks’ playoff run was their need for more shooting. Head coach Jason Kidd played Jason Terry major minutes in the last two games of the season in order to get more spacing on the court.
No team in the NBA can ever get enough shooting, and finding the right prospect who can translate their jumper into the pros is a key challenge for NBA front offices. Pick the next Jimmer Fredette, and your job is over. Pass on Steph Curry and it’s over too, although perhaps not as quickly.
Therefore, teams often stray away from shooters early and instead go for the athletic marvels, the skilled passers, the players with all of the “tools” to succeed. Shooting can be taught, perhaps, and therefore Ricky Rubio goes before Steph Curry, or Michael Kidd-Gilchrist before Bradley Beal, Damian Lillard and Dion Waiters. Sometimes that works out, such as Kemba Walker adding a lethal three-point shot.
The lay of the land suggests that shooters may drop in this draft, giving the Bucks a greater opportunity to land a player they covet. The Philadelphia 76ers want to add shooting, but with the third pick do they go for the superior talent in Josh Jackson rather than reaching slightly for Malik Monk?
His next destination could be Sacramento at No. 5, but if Dennis Smith or De’Aaron Fox are still available the Kings most likely go for a point guard. If that leads to Monk falling to 10th, the Kings can take him there rather than going for Luke Kennard or Terrence Ferguson.
The Charlotte Hornets need a big man, and could go for Zach Collins or Jarrett Allen at No. 11. The Detroit Pistons at 12th will most likely take whichever big the Hornets pass on. Denver could use a defensive wing most of all, and elect for a player such as OG Anunoby or Donovan Mitchell. The Miami Heat tend to go for athletes over shooters, and could target Mitchell or Harry Giles.
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In such a scenario, Kennard, Ferguson and Justin Jackson could all fall out of the lottery. Portland at 15 is most likely comfortable with its stable of shooters, meaning the Chicago Bulls and Milwaukee Bucks are next up. Even if the Bulls take a player such as Ferguson, the Bucks would be able to take their pick of Kennard, Jackson or even T.J. Leaf.