2023 NBA Draft Team Recap: Milwaukee Bucks
While recent comments from superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo have at least put some pressure on the Milwaukee Bucks future, the core of him, Jrue Holiday, Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez will be looking to run it back one more time. The Bucks also added some other interesting veteran pieces in Jae Crowder, Malik Beasley and reunited the Lopez twins.
New Head Coach Adrian Griffin has ten legitimate NBA players 27 years or older to work with which will make it hard to find minutes for some of the young talent on the roster. It would be great to see a jump - and real rotational minutes - from 2022 first round pick, MarJon Beauchamp, and the Bucks added two second round picks in 2023.
Andre Jackson Jr. is coming off a national championship with UConn in his junior season. His scoring numbers leave plenty to be desired but that did not keep him from being an early second round selection, No. 36 overall. What made him special in college - and such an integral piece to the Huskies run to a National title - was the “little things” he contributes on both ends of the floor.
At 6-foot-6 he is a plus rebounder on both ends of the court but particularly impactful offensively creating extra possessions. This offensive rebounding acumen, along with his cutting, is a skill that plays right into his role as an off the ball player. Jackson Jr. also impressed with his passing which resulted in over four and a half assists per game.
While he is not a true on-ball creator, the passing is proficient enough that it will be interesting how an NBA organization is able to leverage it to their advantage.
With the final pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, the Bucks landed a former five-star and top-15 recruit in Kentucky’s Chris Livingston. He had a modest freshman season with the Wildcats but that didn’t stop the 19-year-old from impressing GM Jon Horst enough to get an early promise from the team and a spot on the 15-man roster.
The Oak Hill Academy product had a solid showing at NBA Summer League that resulted in over 10 points per game to go along with more than five rebounds per game.
To continue the influx of talent from this draft class the Bucks also signed guard Omari Moore to a two-way contract and collegiate standout Drew Timme to an exhibit-10.
It is hard to see a path to minutes for any of these rookies in 2023 but that could make the Wisconsin Herd one of the more interesting G League affiliates to keep an eye on throughout the season.
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