Year two of the new Milwaukee Bucks starts tomorrow with the NBA Draft, and the Bucks hold the 17th pick.
There are two things that have a huge bearing on what the Bucks will be looking for in the draft. One is the recent trade of Ersan Ilyasova to the Detroit Pistons for Caron Butler (returning to the team after a brief 34-game stint during the 2013-14 season) and Shawne Williams, two guys who will most likely never wear one of the Bucks new uniforms.
Everybody seems to agree that the trade helped to free up cap room for the Bucks to be aggressive in the free agent market starting in a week on July 1. But before the Bucks can even begin talking to free agents, they have to get through the draft.
Most of the mock drafts – and there are dozens of them – have the Bucks looking for a power forward to replace Ilyasova and add some strength on the front line.
The name most frequently mentioned is Kevon Looney, but there have also been predictions for Bobby Portis, along with both Frank Kaminsky and Sam Dekker from Wisconsin.
Looney is a 6-9, 220-pound forward from UCLA. He has proven himself to be a solid rebounder on both ends of the court. He has also shown some ability to shoot the ball and has just turned 19 years old, so there is room for growth, and he’d fit right in with the Bucks’ kindergarten corps.
Portis, a sophomore from Arkansas, is 6-11 and 246 pounds. He’s got the kind of aggressive and powerful game that Coach Jason Kidd appreciates. He can shoot it a little bit and plays with a non-stop motor.
Both Kaminsky and Dekker would be popular choices as home-grown products. Most experts think Dekker is more NBA ready and has more of an all-around game than Kaminsky. But Kaminsky, last year’s NCAA Player of the Year, has worked hard in combines and in workouts to prove to NBA teams that his skill set of size, defense, passing and shooting can fit into an NBA team.
The other thing to consider with the Bucks is, of course, free agency. The Bucks have a lot of room under the cap to go after attractive free agents (as well as resign last year's breakout leading scorer Khris Middleton).
On July 1, teams can start talking to free agents but singings can’t take place until July 10.
Most experts think the Bucks are going to make a play for a powerful center so they don’t have to rely on veteran Zaza Pachulia, who, at 31, did a great job last season. But getting another center could allow Pachulia to come off the bench and create opportunities for more work for John Henson at forward.
The two centers NBA experts are talking about are Brook Lopez from Brooklyn or Tyson Chandler from Dallas.
Lopez is only 27 and has played both with and for Kidd. He is an offensive force at center, something the Bucks have rarely had. Lopez, though, has been plagued by occasional foot injuries which makes him a concern.
Meanwhile, Chandler is a defensive force and a great rim protector. But he doesn’t give you much offensively and, at 32, doesn’t seem to fit into long-term plans.
Whatever the off-season brings, it starts Thursday as the Bucks try to keep the excitement level high.
With a history in Milwaukee stretching back decades, Dave tries to bring a unique perspective to his writing, whether it's sports, politics, theater or any other issue.
He's seen Milwaukee grow, suffer pangs of growth, strive for success and has been involved in many efforts to both shape and re-shape the city. He's a happy man, now that he's quit playing golf, and enjoys music, his children and grandchildren and the myriad of sports in this state. He loves great food and hates bullies and people who think they are smarter than everyone else.
This whole Internet thing continues to baffle him, but he's willing to play the game as long as OnMilwaukee.com keeps lending him a helping hand. He is constantly amazed that just a few dedicated people can provide so much news and information to a hungry public.
Despite some opinions to the contrary, Dave likes most stuff. But he is a skeptic who constantly wonders about the world around him. So many questions, so few answers.
