Milwaukee Bucks: 5 options for pick No. 48 in 2017 NBA Draft
1. Josh Hart, SG, Villanova
Some players hit the NBA Draft and teams are completely unsure how to evaluate them. Josh Hart is one of those players, as his skill set and accomplishments clash with his age and traditional basketball measurements. If other teams pass on Hart because of the latter, the Bucks could hit another home run in the second round.
Hart led Villanova to a national championship in 2016, then continued the momentum for most of this past season. The Wildcats finished 31-3 behind Hart’s 18.7 points per game, and it’s not a stretch to say he was their best offensive and defensive player. While they exited the tournament early, Hart wrote his resume all season, from a triple-double against St. Joseph’s to 37 points and 11 rebounds in a victory over Notre Dame. Hart never once scored in single figures all season.
On offense, Hart’s greatest strength was his efficiency. He shot 51 percent from the field despite being the primary perimeter option, pouring in 40.4 percent of his three-pointers and showing an underrated explosiveness around the rim. While he doesn’t project as a primary ball-handler in the NBA, his bag of offensive tricks — incredible offensive rebounder for his size, strong finishing, ball protection — fill out an offensive portfolio that is very impressive given his draft stock.
Defensively, Hart combined savvy with size to lock down the opponent’s best offensive players every night. While he was voted the Big East Player of the Year, he almost certainly could have Defensive Player of the Year as well. His quick hands and solid instincts should translate to the next level.
The problem with Hart from an NBA standpoint is his age. The Villanova senior is already 22, limiting his upside, and without elite athleticism he probably will not project as a starter. That being said, Tony Snell didn’t look like a starter until he arrived in Milwaukee, and perhaps Jason Kidd and his staff can best utilize Hart and build him to that level. Even as a solid bench contributor, Hart would be a perfect fit for the Bucks on both ends of the court.
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Whether some team wises up to Hart’s value or he falls to Milwaukee, the intelligent, successful guard will surprise the league with how ready he is from day one. Last season the Bucks snagged that player in Malcolm Brogdon, and he ended up starting for them down the stretch. They would like to grab Hart and see him accomplish something similar in a green and black jersey.