The Milwaukee Bucks are always in contention for an NBA championship with prime Giannis Antetokounmpo.
They also have Damian Lillard and Khris Middleton, two aging stars leaving the team with a seemingly tight title window.
Knowing that it was a bit surprising then, seeing the Bucks forego the chance to sign seasoned college players in the NBA Draft. A Terrence Shannon, for example, seems ready to join an NBA rotation right now.
The Bucks chose AJ Johnson and Tyler Smith as their two draft picks in June’s NBA draft instead. Both Johnson and Smith are 19-year-olds who will need some development before contributing to the Bucks.
Bucks take chance drafting two 19-year-olds
Johnson is a slender wing who weighs under 170 pounds at 6-feet-4 inches tall. Smith is a 6-foot-9 finesse power forward with a smooth shooting stroke.
Both had a bit of circuitous routes to the association. Johnson played professionally in Australia instead of playing in college, ala LaMelo Ball. Before doing so, Johnson was a projected lottery pick out of high school. Smith played with Overtime Elite and then G League’s Ignite team. Current Bucks forward Marjon Beauchamp played for the Ignite, as well. The Bucks chose Beauchamp in the first round of the 2022 NBA Draft.
Smith averaged 14.3 points and 5.2 rebounds on 35% from 3 with the Ignite.
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Bucks’ free agency fills hole of roster now, home run swings in Draft
While the draft was long-term swings, Bucks General Manager Jon Horst bet on himself regarding the present championship chances.
With just veteran minimum contracts to offer outside free agents, he thought it was enough to improve the team. Horst did just that signing Delon Wright, Taurean Prince, and the biggest free-agent coup, Gary Trent Jr., all on minimum contracts. Signing versatile pieces in free agency allowed Horst to take home run wings on long-term potential in the NBA Draft. From the brief five-game NBA Summer League, AJ Johnson certainly flashed potential, particularly at the NBA Combine in Chicago which made the Bucks take notice.
While it was a bit of a head-scratcher on draft night, now with much of the offseason in the rearview mirror, things have come into focus. Netting two 19-year-old long-term prospects along with multiple versatile free agents, Horst has made wholesale improvements to the Bucks’ roster.
For the long-term vitality of the Bucks, Horst may have had an A+ offseason. Not only are the 2024 Bucks in a better spot to contend for a title with improvements to their top eight in the rotation, but he also nabbed two young, high-ceiling prospects in the NBA Draft.
Not too many people are fond of the Bucks’ draft, however. Much of that was because it doesn’t help them in the short term with a short title window. But coupled with the masterclass free agency by Horst, many should be kinder to the Bucks draft now.
Who would have thought the Bucks could net a free agent like Gary Trent Jr. on the minimum? Not many, which is why the Bucks’ draft was a headscratcher for some. Not many thought they could land solid pieces on the minimum and needed win-now pieces to join the rotation via the draft.
19-year-olds offer bright future, particularly Johnson
I am particularly excited about AJ Johnson, who seems like a slept-on prospect.
You won’t be wowed by his stats in Australia, but Johnson was a top prospect out of high school. He is very athletic and jumps out of the gym. Smith seems like a solid second-rounder when projecting towards the future.
While on draft night many were perplexed, the Bucks improved their roster in free agency and long-term outlook with Johnson and Smith.
After draft night, the grades weren’t kind to Milwaukee, but if you asked pundits following the free agency Horst had, the Bucks would get an improved draft grade by taking chances on two exciting long-term prospects.
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