Milwaukee Bucks: 5 options for pick No. 48 in 2017 NBA Draft

The Milwaukee Bucks struck gold last year with their second round pick. To do so again in the 2017 NBA Draft, who should they consider at pick No. 48?

For most teams, second round picks are simply a grasp in the dark, a long-shot swing at a rotation player. For the Milwaukee Bucks, it’s a measured selection of a player with the upside to step into a role from day one.

Last season it was Virginia guard Malcolm Brogdon, whom the Bucks selected with the 36th overall pick. Brogdon, a four-year player at Virginia, was supposed to be a reserve guard at best, a third-stringer to bring in for defense-only possessions.

Instead Brogdon is a finalist for the NBA’s Rookie of the Year award, starting down the stretch for a team that fought its way from 11th in the Eastern Conference to sixth, pushing the Toronto Raptors in a hard-fought first round playoff series.

Not only was he a defensive ace at point guard, but his shooting both freed up space for the Bucks offense and unleashed an emerging 1-3 pick-and-roll combination with Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Jon Leuer, Johnny O’Bryant and Jodie Meeks are all former Milwaukee second round picks that have carved out roles for themselves in the league. Can the Bucks connect on another second-round swing and add another rotation piece?

To do so, the Bucks have to first know who might be available when they pick, and how they fit into the team’s needs moving forward. The later the pick, the more uncertain the options will be, but this front office does its homework and will be prepared for draft night, regardless of who is the general manager at the time.

For now, their search for a meaningful contributor at pick No. 48 begins amidst amber waves of grain, with a Wooden Award-winning guard and his style award-winning haircut.