Milwaukee Bucks: 5 goals for the 2018 offseason
5. Make first round pick count
The Milwaukee Bucks dodged a team-building bullet early in the offseason. After trading a top-16 protected first round pick in the Eric Bledsoe deal, Milwaukee finished in a tie with the Miami Heat for the 16th pick. If the coin flip favored Milwaukee, granting the Bucks pick No. 16, they would send that to Phoenix.
Instead the coin flip went Miami’s way, and the Bucks kept their pick (interestingly enough, Phoenix also owned that Miami pick, and just missed out on back-to-back first round picks at Nos. 16 and 17). With a draft class defined by little consensus outside the elite prospects, plenty of intriguing options will be available for the Bucks at No. 17.
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Milwaukee’s most glaring need last season was at the 5, with the team leaning on the low-upside John Henson for most of the year. In the postseason, second-year player Thon Maker came alive, draining 3-pointers and blocking everything in sight. If Milwaukee doesn’t trust Maker’s limited run — or wishes to bolster the roster behind him — it could add one of the talented centers in this year’s draft. Wendell Carter Jr., Robert Williams or Mitchell Robinson could all be available at 17.
Yet the modern NBA is moving to the wing, and Milwaukee will need more wings if it wants to flex Giannis-at-the-5 lineups. Players such as Shake Milton, De’Anthony Melton, Kevin Huerter or Josh Okogie could be available and fill valuable roles in the rotation, similar to Sterling Brown last season.
If the team moves on from Bledsoe via trade, then point guard could become a need as well. A player such as Milton could be a combo guard off the bench, but it is also possible a player such as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander or Coliln Sexton drops as these exciting wing prospects shoot up the draft board.
The direction this team takes on draft night will be of vital importance, as it may not get another pick this high in some time. Where do the Bucks choose to improve their roster? And can they hit on a pick like they did with Malcolm Brogdon, Brown or Antetokounmpo himself rather than swing and miss like D.J. Wilson or Rashad Vaughn?