| 30 Teams, 30 Days: Milwaukee Draft Preview Authored by Jason M. Williams - May 29, 2007 - 9:29 pm
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Draft Picks: 6th, 56th
What they do well
Last season, the thing they did best was populate the injured reserve list. This team is loaded with talent, but was struck with a series of injuries that made it difficult for them to compete in the strong Central division.
Led by star marksman Michael Redd, he is flanked by frontcourt anchors Charlie Villanueva and Andrew Bogut. Both are very solid players that are coming off injury-plagued second seasons, but will be looking to build on their stellar rookie years. Redd has been battling the injury bug lately, but his 26.7 points per game last year make him one of the most lethal threats in the league from the perimeter.
24-year old Maurice Williams evolved into a top point guard last season, averaging 17.3 points, 6.1 assists, and 1.3 steals per game. However, he is entering free agency and should command a hefty contract and many suitors.
The trade for Earl Boykins in the middle of the season provided Milwaukee with a sparkplug off the bench who is capable of netting 30 points on any given night.
Charlie Bell stepped up this season and averaged 13.5 points and 3.0 assists while filling in for the depleted Buck backcourt.
This youthful core is solid, but injuries and inconsistency have doomed them over the past couple of seasons.
Where do they need improvement?
If Milwaukee brings back Maurice Williams, they have four legit starters in Williams, Michael Redd, Charlie Villanueva, and Andrew Bogut. However, they are very limited at the small forward position with Ruben Patterson entering free agency (and possibly jail), and the cloud of uncertainty lingering over everlasting injuries to Bobby Simmons. They also lack depth with only Earl Boykins, Brian Skinner, and Dan Gadzuric off the bench with extensive experience.
Assuming Williams is resigned, they definitely have to provide insurance at the three position. They are in perfect position to draft from the glut of talent available in this Draft. However, if they feel confident that Simmons or even Villanueva can fill that starting swingman position next season, they might opt to pick one of the remaining power forwards. At this Draft position, they could get lucky if either Al Horford, Brandon Wright, or Yi Jialian fall to them. However, it would be quite foolish to pass on the available talented wing options.
Who they should target?
- Corey Brewer, Florida:
Brewer demonstrated his ability to rise to the occasion and deliver on the big stage when he was named the Most Outstanding Player of the 2007 Final Four. He has been a team leader for the back-to-back National Champion Florida Gators, and would fit perfectly on this Bucks team. His length and quickness make him the top defender at the position and his ability to hit the three-point shot on dishes from a driving Boykins or Williams should make him a no-brainer for the Bucks with the sixth overall pick.
- Julian Wright, Kansas:
This 6-8 Jayhawk is a tremendous athlete who can play multiple positions on both offense and defense. He has the ability to take his man off the dribble and create his own shot. However, he is limited from beyond the arc, as he only made 3 three-point shots in his two years at Kansas. However, his knack for the ball and his diverse skill set make him a high risk-high reward type of pick. His tenacity on defense rivals any of the other wings in this draft and his upside might be too much to pass on for the Bucks.
- Jeff Green, Georgetown:
Green may be the best playmaker of these three options at the wing. He is a very physical player who can pull down rebounds and create shots for his teammates on offense. Defensively, he is not as renowned as the others, but his 6-9, 235 lb frame enables him to play physical around the hoop. He was also the leader of the Georgetown team that reached the Final Four and he averaged a healthy 14.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 3.2 assists during his junior season.
Picks since 2000
The Bucks have not really benefited from the first round of the Draft since 2000. They won the 2005 Lottery and selected Australian center Andrew Bogut and also snatched T.J. Ford in the historic 2003 Draft. However, they’ve only had four first round picks in the past seven years, and only Bogut remains with the team.
They had two second round picks in 2002 that are still playing in the league today in Dan Gadzuric and Flip Murray, while Ersan Ilysaova and David Noel provided steady minutes during Milwaukee’s tank-a-thon this season as second rounders from the past two years.
Ultimately, the Bucks often do not have a first round pick, but have been keen with their second round selections, highlighted by their selection of All-Star Michael Redd in the 2000 Draft.
2006
David Noel, 39th
2005
Andrew Bogut, 1st
Ersan Ilyasova, 36th
2004
None
2003
T.J. Ford, 8th
Szymon Szewczyk, 35th
Keith Bogans, 43rd
2002
Marcus Haislip, 13th
Dan Gadzuric, 34th
Flip Murray, 42nd
Chris Owens, 48th (traded to Memphis)
2001
Andre Hutson, 52nd
2000
Jason Collier, 15th (traded to Houston)
Michael Redd, 43th
Jason Hart, 49th
Who do you want the Bucks to draft at number 6? Feel free to contact Jason M. Williams with your thoughts. He can be reached at Jason.Williams@RealGM.com for comments or questions. |
