Bucks Zone

Bucks Reportedly Preparing to Make Big Moves on Draft Night

Jan 24, 2024; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks general manager Jon Horst address the media after head coach Adrian Griffin (not pictured) was dismissed at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
Jan 24, 2024; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks general manager Jon Horst address the media after head coach Adrian Griffin (not pictured) was dismissed at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images | Benny Sieu-Imagn Images

In this story:


The Milwaukee Bucks are looking to make a much deeper run in the playoffs next season as their 48-34 record earned them a spot in the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference and a first-round exit to the Indiana Pacers.

As the Oklahoma City Thunder were crowned champions of the basketball world, the next event that Milwaukee has its' sights set on is the NBA Draft. With the No. 47 overall pick, fans can expect the Bucks to care less about the lower-level selections in the draft, and more about using the pick as leverage to improve the team by trade.

More news: Bucks Are Directly Impacted by Brutal Tyrese Haliburton Injury

Bucks insider Sean Wright reported that Milwaukee's general manager Jon Hurst has an 'ace up his sleeve' looking ahead to Wednesday's draft.

Wright also wrote that the Bucks are aiming to get younger and may achieve this by trading into the first round of the draft.

The Bucks were tied for the eight-oldest roster in the NBA last season with the Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks. The average age of Milwaukee's team was 26.9 years old.

The draft has plenty of potential to be deeper than recent years' pool of players and can prove to be the perfect opportunity for the Bucks to get much-needed depth, while also achieving their goal of a fostering a younger team.

More news: Bucks News: Biggest Need Heading Into NBA Draft Revealed

One of the biggest pressure points this offseason will be dealing with Damian Lillard's absence after he tore his left Achilles during Game 4 of the first-round of the playoffs. This was also just two games back since Lillard missed extended time with deep vein thrombosis in his right calf.

Lillard's indefinite vacancy will be a giant hole to overcome, but perhaps developing a younger player in the Draft can be the first step to lessening the void.

As the Draft approaches, and perhaps more potential deals will start to materialize, fans can finally start to see what the reported 'ace' up Horst's sleeve really is.

More news: Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade Rumors Get Major Update From NBA Insider

Biggest Need Heading Into NBA Draft Revealed

Bucks 2021 Title Disrespected in NBA Championship Ranking

Bucks Rumors: Decision on Two Milwaukee Standouts Might Already Be in Motion

For more news and notes on the Milwaukee Bucks, visit Milwaukee Bucks on SI.


Published
Gabe Smallson
GABE SMALLSON

Gabe Smallson is a sportswriter based in Los Angeles. His focus is sports and entertainment content. Gabe has previously worked at DodgersNation and Newsweek. He graduated from San Francisco State University in 2020 and is a Masters Candidate at the University of Southern California. You can get in touch with Gabe by emailing gabe.smallson@lasportsreport.com. You can find him on X @gabesmallson

Share on XFollow gabesmallson