Building The 15 - 2013 NBA Draft First Round Preview for John Hammond

As I said in my second round preview for the Milwaukee Bucks, the NBA Draft is covered so well that I am pretty confident the first 14 players that will come off the board in the first round of the 2014 NBA Draft (in some order) are: Karl-Anthony Towns, Jahlil Okafor, Kristaps Porzingis, D'Angelo Russell, Justise Winslow, Emmanuel Mudiay, Mario Hezonja, Devin Booker, Frank Kaminsky, Myles Turner, Willie Cauley-Stein, Sam Dekker, Stanley Johnson, and Kelly Oubre.

I am fine with the Bucks drafting pretty much any of the 14 players mentioned above with the exception of Oubre.  I have a particularly strong affinity for the guys in the Top 5 (Karl-Anthony Towns, Jahlil Okafor, Kristaps Porzingis, D'Angelo Russell, and Justise Winslow) because everyone besides Porzingis looks like a borderline lock to become studs in the NBA.  There is zero chance any of those guys will be available unless the Bucks trade-up, which I advise against because they would have to trade either The Greek Freak or Jabari Parker to make that happen.

I also have a particular affinity for the two Wisconsin guys (Kaminsky and Dekker) and both would actually fit in well on The 15 for the Bucks.  Assuming they are off the board, here are the 10 guys (most to least) that Hammond and Company should strongly consider if they are available with the 17th pick in the 2015 NBA Draft:

Bobby Portis (PF, 6'11", 246 lbs, Arkansas, 20 years old) - The 2014-15 SEC Player of the Year is my official reasonable draft crush given his length and outside chance to become Al Horford 2.0.

Jerian Grant (PG/SG, 6'4", 198 lbs, Notre Dame, 22 years old) - Although Grant is NOT quite as long as other guards that I am about to discuss, his ability to play both back court positions is too enticing to pass up.

Delon Wright (PG/SG, 6'6", 181 lbs, Utah, 23 years old) - I know this will get me killed in some NBA circles but I am not at all turned off by the fact that Wright is already 23.  Sure there are guys that are four years younger but I see Wright as a starter next season while some of the younger guys will need a couple seasons before they are ready for significant minutes so the Bucks would get a useful asset that could play at a high level in the NBA for 10 to 12 years.

Trey Lyles (PF, 6'10", 242 lbs, Kentucky, 19 years old) - The advanced stats are stacked against Lyles but some of that might have to do with Lyles playing out of position for such a stacked Kentucky team.

Rashad Vaughn (SG, 6'5", 199 lbs, UNLV, 18 years old) - A knee injury cut Vaughn's season short.  Reports from recent pre-draft workouts were so positive that teams are no longer worried about his knee so his draft stock is on the rise.

Kevon Looney (PF, 6'9", 222 lbs, UCLA, 19 years old) - I have visions of Looney as a rich man's Luc Richard Mbah a Moute aka The Prince.  I say rich man's The Price because Looney is much more polished offensively than The Price.  Long time readers of this space know my affinity for The Prince so assuming Looney is healthy, there is an outside chance in a couple seasons that he becomes a nice mix of The Price and Jared Dudley so yes, I like Looney's upside.

R.J. Hunter (SG, 6'6", 185 lbs, Georgia State, 21 years old) - One of the best story lines of the 2015 NCAA Tournament was the father/son, coach/player story of Ron Hunter and R.J. Hunter.  The is no question that Hunter is one of the best pure shooters in the draft but there are big questions about how much defense he can play in the NBA.

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (SF, 6'7", 211 lbs, Arizona, 20 years old) - Although Hollis-Jefferson is one of the best defenders in the 2015 NBA Draft, I might be a better shooter than him right now.  Given how much the Bucks struggled offensively last year, Hollis-Jefferson might not be the best fit but given that the Bucks think they can fix MCW's offensive deficiencies, I assume they think they could do the same thing with Hollis-Jefferson.

Cameron Payne (PG, 6'2", 183 lbs, Murray State, 20 years old) - I see shades of Damian Lillard in Payne and the advanced metrics back that up.  Given that the Bucks are going for long, interchangeable parts, I am not sure that Payne is the best fit physically but his offensive upside is too impressive to pass up.

Tyus Jones (PG, 6'2", 185 lbs, Duke, 19 years old) - Much of my discussion of Payne applies to Jones too and the advanced stats are in even more love with Jones than Payne.  I see Jones as a rich man's Tyler Ennis as a rookie.

There are some names that just missed the cut that I would rather see Hammond trade back to get at the end of the first round and get another asset instead of taking with the 17th pick: Justin Anderson, Montrezl Harrell, Guillermo Hernangomez, Cedi Osman, Rakeem Christmas, or Anthony Brown.

With how I think Hammond should approach the 2015 NBA Draft documented, make sure to check back tomorrow to read my "what each GM should do" mock draft of the first round of the 2015 NBA Draft.

Building The 15 - 2015 NBA Draft Second Round Preview for John Hammond

The Milwaukee Bucks currently hold the 17th and 46th picks in the 2015 NBA Draft.  With how well the NBA is covered, I don't want to step too much on my first round preview or my "Mock" draft but you can almost be assured that the following 39 guys will NOT be available when the Bucks are on the clock with the 46th pick: Karl-Anthony Towns, Jahlil Okafor, Kristaps Porzingis, D'Angelo Russell, Justise Winslow, Emmanuel Mudiay, Mario Hezonja, Frank Kaminsky, Devin Booker, Myles Turner, Willie Cauley-Stein, Sam Dekker, Stanley Johnson, Bobby Portis, Trey Lyles, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Jerian Grant, Cameron Payne, Delon Wright, Rashad Vaughn, R.J. Hunter, Kevon Looney, Kelly Oubre, Tyus Jones, Justin Anderson, Guillermo Hernangomez, Montrezl Harrell, Nikola Milutinov, Rakeem Christmas, Anthony Brown, Cedi Osman, Olivier Hanlan, Chris McCullough, Joseph Young, Terry Rozier, Jarell Martin, Jordan Mikey, Josh Richardson, and Larry Nance Jr.

Despite the fact that the Bucks have nabbed a few starters in the second round of the draft since 2000 (Michael Redd, Dan Gadzuric, Ersan Ilyasova, and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute), it is still a crap shoot so I support the Bucks taking any of the 39 guys just mentioned.  If all those 39 guys are gone, here are the 11 guys I like (most to least) so Bucks general manager John Hammond and Company should strongly consider drafting any of them if they are available with the 46th pick:

Dakari Johnson (C, 7'0", 255 lbs, Kentucky, 19 years old) - Backup NBA centers are becoming just like backup MLB catchers, expensive despite the fact that they are borderline part-time employees.  The Bucks are scheduled to pay Zaza Pachulia $5.3 million next season and the Bucks can get the same production from Johnson for 20% of the cost.

Pat Connaughton (SG/SF, 6'5", 215 lbs, Notre Dame, 22 years old) - The surprise combine freak might be an even better baseball player than a basketball player.

Michael Frazier II (SG, 6'5", 199 lbs, Florida, 21 years old) - Projects as one of the best long-distance shooters in the entire draft.

Richaun Holmes (PF, 6'10", 243, Bowling Green, 21 years old) - Arguably the best shot-blocker in the draft helps the Bucks push to be the best defensive team in the NBA.

Alan Williams (PF, 6'8", 261 lbs, UC Santa Barbara, 22 years old) - Projects to be one of the best all-around defenders in the entire draft.

Norman Powell (SG, 6'4", 215 lbs, UCLA, 22 years old) - Although Powell struggled from long distance last season, he put together a string off impressive workouts to show he brings more to the table than being a lock down defender.

Tyler Harvey (SG, 6'4", 181 lbs, Eastern Washington, 21 years old) - I see Harvey as a small school version of Powell.

Christian Wood (PF, 6'11", 216 lbs, UNLV, 19 years old) - Has a chance to be Larry Sanders 2.0 on the court, the question is whether he is the anti-Larry Sanders off-the-court or Larry Sanders 2.0 off the court.

J.P. Tokoto (SF, 6'6", 196 lbs, University of North Carolina, 21 years old ) - The Wisconsin native might have left school a year too early but would give the Bucks a guy that can cover almost any position besides center.  A poor man's Jared Dudley, if you will.

Briante Weber (PG, 6'2", 165 lbs, VCU, 22 years old) - A knee injury makes Weber a risky pick but advanced metrics project Weber as a mid-first round talent so the downside risk is worth the gargantuan upside.

Jonathan Holmes (SF, 6'9", 242 lbs, Texas, 22 years old) - Good but NOT great in all facets of the game.  Reminds me a little of Khris Middleton, which might be too high of praise for a guy that might go undrafted.

With how I think the Bucks should approach the second round of the 2015 NBA Draft documented, make sure to check back over the next couple days to read my thoughts on how the Bucks should approach the first round of the 2015 NBA Draft and my "what each GM should do" mock draft of the first round of the 2015 NBA Draft.

Building The 15 - 2013 First Round NBA Mock Draft

Much like I said the last two years (2011 and 2012) in my first round mock draft of the NBA Draft, undoubtedly there will be a ton of trades deeming this "mock" draft essentially useless, but I want to get on record what I think each general manager should do with each pick if they kept it:

1. Cleveland Cavaliers - Victor Oladipo (SG, 6'4", 213 lbs, Indiana, 21 years old) - My unabashed draft crush will be one of the best defensive shooting guards in the NBA as a rookie.  If Oladipo takes his offensive game to the next level in the NBA then the Cavs will rival the Golden State Warriors for the most potent back court in the NBA.

2. Orlando Magic - Otto Porter (SF, 6'9", 198 lbs, Georgetown, 20 years old) - Despite already having small forward Tobias Harris on the roster thanks to a lopsided trade with the Bucks, Porter could be the best player in the draft so talent trumps need.

3. Washington Wizards - Anthony Bennett (PF, 6'8", 240 lbs, UNLV, 20 years old) - The potential second coming of Larry Johnson has weight and injury issues, which gives me some reservations.

4. Charlotte Bobcats - Nerlens Noel (C, 7'0". 206 lbs, Kentucky 19 years old) - Will most likely go first overall despite currently rehabbing a torn ACL because of the lack of a surefire franchise player in this draft.  If Noel can add some weight/muscle, worst case I see him as legitimate defensive force in the mold of Ben Wallace.

5. Phoenix Suns - Michael Carter-Williams (PG, 6'6", 184 lbs, Syracuse, 21 years old) - Height outweighs his crude jump shot because he is done growing but can definitely improve offensively.

6. New Orleans Pelicans - C.J. McCollum (PG, 6'3", 197 lbs, Lehigh, 21 years old) - According to almost every talent evaluator, they found McCollum to be one of the most engaging players throughout the evaluation process but make no mistake about it, without Damien Lillard coming from a small school and still winning rookie of the year last season, there is no way that McCollum would have cracked the Top 6 in this draft.

7. Sacramento Kings - Alex Len (C, 7'1", 225 lbs, Maryland, 20 years old) - Injuries always worry me, especially with centers (think Andrew Bogut, Andrew Bynum, and Greg Oden).  Despite having a new ownership group, it will take a few years to scrub the Maloof stink off the franchise, which makes this boom-or-bust pick a little risky.

8. Detroit Pistons - Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (SG, 6'6", 204 lbs, Georgia, 20 years old) - Possesses one of the best offensive skill sets in the country.  Even if you play in the SEC, when your team goes 15-17 it is hard to get national recognition even if you, which is why KCP is not getting Top 5 buzz.

9. Minnesota Timberwolves - Cody Zeller (PF, 7'0", 230 lbs, Indiana, 20 years old) - Despite not being a huge Zeller fan, pairing him with Ricky Rubio is the perfect match that serves as Kevin Love insurance. There was a rumor that the Cavs offered the first pick in the draft, Dion Waiters, and Tristan Thompson for Kevin Love.  I normally do not support trading lottery tickets for one of the 20 best players in the NBA but I would make an exception here because Love is injury prone and will most likely leave via free agency over the next few years.  Proactively moving Love would give the T-Wolves Oladipo, Waiters, and Thompson to pair with Rubio and Pekovic, which would make them a "must watch" on NBA League Pass.

10. Portland Trail Blazers - Ben McLemore (SG, 6'5", 189 lbs, Kansas, 20 years old) - Probably five spots lower than McLemore will actually go in the draft but his passive play gives me reservation about how successful he will be in the NBA even though he has the best chance to be an All-Star in the entire draft.

11. Philadelphia 76ers - Steven Adams (C, 7'0", 255 lbs, Pittsburgh, 19 years old) - Taking a center in the first round allows the new management of the 76ers to move on from the Andrew Bynum nightmare.

12. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Toronto) - Trey Burke (PG, 6'1", 187 lbs, Michigan, 20 years old) - There is a chance Burke overcomes his diminutive stature at the next level but I continue to have T.J. Ford nightmares every time I see Burke.  Add in that Burke moved up most draft boards thanks to a productive March and Burke has too many red flags for me to take him in the Top 10.

13. Dallas Mavericks - Sergey Karasev (SG, 6'7", 197 lbs, Russia, 19 years old) - The Mavs are continue to shed salary to keep alive their slim hopes of signing Chris Paul and Dwight Howard this off-season.  Taking a high upside European player like Karasev allows them to add a nice commodity they can stash in Europe to keep their books clean.

14. Utah Jazz - Shane Larkin (PG, 6'0", 171 lbs, Miami, 20 years old) - Much like Burke, I would have taken Larkin five spots higher if he was even a few inches taller but the ghost of T.J. Ford continues to haunt my judgment.

15. Milwaukee Bucks - Dennis Schroeder (PG, 6'2", 165 lbs, Germany, 19 years old) - There is no way Brandon Jennings, J.J. Redick, and Monta Ellis all re-sign with the Bucks.  If none of the trio re-signs with the Buckjs then Schroeder starts in the NBA next year.  If any of them re-sign then the Bucks can stash Schroeder in Europe for a year or two to help him refine his game.

16. Boston Celtics - Shabazz Muhammad (SF, 6'6", 222 lbs, UCLA, 20 years old) - Unfortunately for Celtics fans it is looking more and more like Paul Pierce's days in Boston are numbered, which puts even more pressure on Muhammad.  Going into the season it looked like Muhammad might go 1st overall but attitude, offensive struggles, and the revelation that he lied about his age all hurt his draft stock.

17. Atlanta Hawks - Lucas Nogueira (C, 7'0", 220 lbs, Brazil, 20 years old) - With two consecutive picks, the Hawks will likely stash one of the two players they draft overseas.  Nogueria is a perfect candidate because with a little seasoning he could help form the perfect twin-towers tandem with Al Horford down the road.

18. Atlanta Hawks (from Houston via Brooklyn) - Glen Rice Jr. (SF, 6'6", 211 lbs, NBDL, 22 years old) - After a number of off-the-court issues dogged him a year ago, Rice tore up NBDL the second half of the season to move from a fringe second round pick to a mid-first round pick.  Rice's offensive game is too enticing to pass up at this point in the draft.

19. Cleveland Cavaliers (from Los Angeles) - Giannis Antetokounmpo (SF, 6'9", 215 lbs, Greece, 18 years old) - After drafting Oladipo 1st overal, the Cavs can trot out a pretty impressive starting five of Kyrie Irving (point guard), Oladipo (shooting guard), Waiters (small forward), Thompson (power forward), and Anderson Varejao (center).  Although that means Waiters has to play out of position, adding Antetokounmpo give the Cavs a starting small forward down the road once they decide whether Oladipo or Waiters is their long-term answer at shooting guard.

20. Chicago Bulls - Tony Mitchell (PF, 6'9", 236 lbs, North Texas, 21 years old) - Admitted to having some maturity issues in college but his physical skill set makes him the perfect player for Tom Thibodeau's system.

21. Utah Jazz (from Golden State via Brooklyn) - Kelly Olynyk (PF, 7'0", 234 lbs, Gonzaga, 22 years old) - The advanced stats say that Olynyk projects as a perfect stretch power forward in the NBA, which is not really a need given the front court depth the Jazz have (Derrick Favors and Enis Kanter) even if both Paul Milsap and Al Jefferson leave via free agency, but Olynyk feels like steal this late in the draft so talent outweighs positional need.

22. Brooklyn Nets - Jamaal Franklin (SG, 6'5", 191 lbs, San Diego State, 22 years old) - Despite having a ton of money committed to Joe Johnson and Gerald Wallace, with MarShon Brooks on the way out, the Nets could use a versatile wing to come off the bench.

23. Indiana Pacers - Allen Crabbe (SG, 6'6", 197 lbs, California, 21 years old) - Projects as one of the best offensive threats in the draft but still not sure about his defensive abilities.  If Crabbe performs well defensively, he will be the steal of the draft.

24. New York Knicks - Reggie Bullock (SG, 6'7", 200 lbs, North Carolina, 22 years old) - A late bloomer makes me question whether he can develop into a consist starter at shooting guard but worst case scenario projects as a three-point assassin off the bench.

25. Los Angeles Clippers - Tim Hardaway Jr. (SG, 6'6", 199 lbs, Michigan, 21 years old) - Reminds me of Monta Ellis given the fact that he is a high volume shooter so learning under Jamal Crawford's wing will help Hardaway fulfill his destiny of becoming Jamonta Elford 2.0.

26. Minnesota Timberwolves (from Memphis via Houston) - Tony Snell (SF, 6'7", 198 lbs, New Mexico, 21 years old) - With his long arms he looks like a versatile NBA defender but unfortunately he didn't put up big deal or block numbers in college so I am not sure he can to it in the NBA. This late in the first round, taking a gamble on the body is worth the risk.

27. Denver Nuggets - Gorgui Dieng (C, 6'11", 203 lbs, Louisville, 23 years old) - College experience used to be an asset but now teams perceive that as lost NBA seasons, which bumps the oldest player in the draft to the end of the first round.

28. San Antonio Spurs - Rudy Gobert (C, 7'2", 238 lbs, France, 20 years old) - With Tiago Splitter a restricted free agent in his late 20's, I see the Spurs tendering Splitter but adding his replace a few years down the road in Gobert.

29. Oklahoma City Thunder - Ricardo Ledo (SG, 6'6", 197 lbs, Providence, 20 years old) - Too bad Ledo had so many issues off the court because heading into college, Ledo looked like a surefire lottery pick thanks to his impressive offensive abilities.

30. Phoenix Suns (from Miami via L.A. and Cleveland) - Alex Abrines (SG, 6'5", 195 lbs, Spain, 20 years old) - I would be shocked if Mason Plumlee was not drafted in the first round, which would be a safer pick here but I would rather swing for the fences taking a high upside guy like Abrines at the end of the first round instead of legging out a bunt single with Plumlee.

Today is Cheesehead Chick and my fourth wedding anniversary, which means I will be watching the 2013 NBA Draft on delay tonight so check back later tonight on Twitter @CheeseheadSN for my quick thoughts on what the Milwaukee Bucks do and Sunday for my traditional Sunday Funday post recapping the Bucks' 2013 NBA Draft.

Building The 15 - 2013 NBA Draft First Round Preview for John Hammond

Each of the last two season Milwaukee Bucks general manager John Hammond pulled off a trade on the eve of the draft.  In 2011, Hammond made a three-team trade giving up Corey Maggette, John Salmons, and the 10th pick in the 2011 NBA Draft in exchange for Stephen Jackson, Livingston, and the 19th pick in the 2011 NBA Draft.  The actual players exchanged in that trade are not worth discussing because it amounted to a few franchises re-arranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.  The huge bummer of that trade that is worth discussing is that by moving down from 10th to 19th, the Bucks missed out on the chance to draft Klay Thompson and Kawhi Leonard.  There is no guarantee that Hammond would have taken Thompson or Leonard, but the fact that the Bucks missed out on the chance to draft two franchise players casts a pall over the trade.

In 2012, Hammond traded Jon Brockman, Jon Leuer, Shaun Livingston, and the 12th pick in the 2012 NBA Draft to the Houston Rockets for Samuel Dalembert, the 14th pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, a future second round pick, and cash considerations.  The Bucks drafted John Henson with the 14th pick.  Although I am disappointed the Bucks gave up Leuer, the disappointment is mitigated by the fact that the Bucks should have John Henson and Larry Sanders in the fold for the next decade.  By trading back from 12 to 14 the only players the Bucks missed out on drafting were Jeremy Lamb and Kendall Marshall.  I would much rather have Henson than Lamb or Marshall so this is no where close to missing out on Thompson and Leonard like they did last year.

Will Hammond make a trade for the third year in a row on the eve of the draft?  With only eight players currently under contract for next season (Gustavo Ayon, Drew Gooden, John Henson, Ersan Ilyasova, Luc Mbah a Moute, Larry Sanders, Ish Smith, Ekpe Udoh), the Bucks do not have a ton of trade chips.

There awere reports that the Boston Celtics are looking for a first round pick for Paul Pierce.  The two teams that showed interest are the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Milwaukee Bucks.  Even if the Bucks were able to dump Drew Gooden's contract, the trade makes no sense for the Bucks because Pierce is owed $15 million next season while Gooden is set to earn $6.7 million each of the next two seasons so they are not even saving money in the trade.

Normally I advocate taking the best player available but the top three back court players from last season (Brandon Jennings, Monta Ellis, and J.J. Redick) could all be playing elsewhere next season so the Bucks have to consider drafting for need instead of taking the best player available.

As I said in my second round preview for the Milwaukee Bucks, the NBA Draft is covered so well that I am pretty confident the first 11 players that will come off the board in the first round of the 2013 NBA Draft, in some order, are: Nerlens Noel, Victor Oladipo, Otto Porter, Anthony Bennett, Alex Len, Ben McLemore, Michael Carter-Williams, Trey Burke, C.J. McCollum, Cody Zeller, and Kantavious Caldwell-Pope.

Take that with a grain of salt though because last year in my preview of the first round of the 2012 NBA Draft for the Milwaukee Bucks I thought I had a good feel for the nine guys that would NOT be available when the Bucks were on the clock with the 14th pick.  Much to my pleasant surprise, John Henson (one of those nine guys) fell to 14 so the Bucks smartly drafted Henson.

I am fine with the Bucks drafting any of the 11 players mentioned above.  I have a particularly strong affinity for Oladipo, Porter, Carter-Williams, McCollum, and Caldwell-Pope.  Assuming they are all drafted, here are the 10 guys (most to least) that Hammond and Company should strongly consider if they are available with the 15th pick:

Dennis Schroeder (PG, 6'2", 165 lbs, Germany, 19 years old) - Last time the Bucks drafted a point guard that played in Europe (Brandon Jennings in 2009) it worked out pretty well.  Ultimately I think Jennings is a more of a slashing shooting guard than a point guard but I still think he is salvageable as the third-best player on a championship team, which means the Bucks should not give Jennings a max-contract this off-season. If the Bucks draft Schroeder, it would allow Jennings to shift over to shooting guard.

Sergey Karasev (SG, 6'7", 197 lbs, Russia, 19 years old) - Hard to see Karasev playing in the NBA next season but his length and shooting ability makes him a potential franchise player for the next decade.

Giannis Antetokoumpo (SF, 6'9", 215 lbs, Greece, 18 years old) - My affinity for overseas players is partly because it gives the Bucks the best chance to bottom out while allowing assets to improve overseas.  Antetokoumpo has the highest ceiling and lowest floor of the three overseas players just discussed.

Shane Larkin (PG, 6'0", 171 lbs, Miami, 20 years old) - Apparently Bucks management were blown away with Larkin's workout.  I like everything about Larkin besides his height and let's not forget that a smallish guard (T.J. Ford) had a great workout before the 2003 NBA Draft for the Bucks.  On the plus side, I've heard some people compare Larkin to Kemba Walker so now we know his ceiling (Walker) and floor (Ford).

Allen Crabbe (SG, 6'6", 197 lbs, California, 21 years old) - A few pundits compared Crabbe to Klay Thompson.  That seems rather lofty but having a tall shooting guard that can actually defend for the first time since Ray Allen left town would be nice. 

Glen Rice Jr. (SF, 6'6", 211 lbs, NBDL, 22 years old) - Offensive production has a way of helping people brush over off-the-court issues.  There is no doubt that Rice has the chance to be a scoring machine in the NBA, the question is whether his off-the-court issues will get in the way. 

Reggie Bullock (SG, 6'7", 200 lbs, North Carolina, 22 years old) - It is easier to evaluate players when they have one elite skill.  Bullock is an elite shooter, which is enough for me to justify taking him 15th overall.

Shabazz Muhammad (SF, 6'6", 222 lbs, UCLA, 20 years old) - The Harrison Barnes comparisons seem way too convenient.  I wouldn't touch Muhammad in the lottery but outside the lottery, the chances of drafting a franchise player are slim, so why not swing for the fences.

Jamaal Franklin (SG, 6'5", 191 lbs, San Diego State, 22 years old) - No question Franklin is a great defender but unless he can improve his long-range shooting, I see him being a poor man's Tony Allen.

Ricardo Ledo (SG, 6'6", 197 lbs, Providence, 20 years old) - Some speculate that Ledo was a lock to go in the lottery before off the court issues precluded Ledo from playing at Providence.  Thus drafting Ledo involves taking a bit of a leap of faith but one certainly worth taking to get such a talented, big bodied shooting guard.

I would be shocked if the Bucks passed on any of the aforementioned 21 players unless they decide one of the front court players not discussed (Steven Adams, Lucas Nogueira, Kelly Olynyk, Tony Mitchell, or Mason Plumlee) is too enticing to pass up but with the potential back court turnover I find that highly unlikely.

With how I think the Milwaukee Bucks should approach the 2013 NBA Draft documented, make sure to check back tomorrow to read my "what each GM should do" mock draft of the first round of the 2013 NBA Draft.

Building The 15 - 2013 NBA Draft Second Round Preview for John Hammond

Last month I gave Milwaukee Bucks general manager John Hammond my 10 Point Plan for how he should approach the off-season.  So far Hammond has only followed one piece of my advice when he picked up the team's $1.5 million option on center Gustavo Ayon for next season.

Of the nine remaining pieces of advice, Hammond was unable to deliver on two of them.  First, he hired Larry Drew as the next head coach instead of hiring a younger and cheaper defensive-minded coach.  Second, despite offering a two-year, $25 million extension to entice shooting guard Monta Ellis to exercise his $11 million player option for next season, Ellis opted-out of the last year of his contract with the Bucks.  Let me be clear, I wanted the Bucks to have Ellis on an $11 million expiring contract as a trade asset but paying Ellis $36 million over the next three seasons is way too much for a high-volume shooter that is a below average defender.

That leave seven pieces of advice that might or might not be followed.  Ironically my 7th piece of advice in my 10 Point Plan was to read my draft previews so let's start to break down the 2013 NBA Draft for the Milwaukee Bucks.

The Bucks currently hold the 15th and 43rd picks in the draft.  With how well the NBA Draft is covered, you can almost be assured that the following 35 guys (Nerlens Noel, Victor Oladipo, Otto Porter, Anthony Bennett, Alex Len, Ben McLemore, Michael Carter-Williams, Trey Burke, C.J. McCollum, Cody Zeller, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Steven Adams, Sergey Karasev, Lucas Nogueira, Giannis Antetolounmpo, Dennis Schroeder, Shabazz Muhammad, Shane Larkin, Kelly Olynyk, Jamaal Franklin, Tony Mitchell, Mason Plumlee, Reggie Bullock, Glen Rice Jr., Allen Crabbe, Ricardo Ledo, Gorgui Dieng, Tim Hardaway Jr., Isaiah Canaan, Tony Snell, Rudy Gobert, Jeff Withey, Mike Muscala, Alex Abrines, and Pierre Jackson) will no longer be available with the 43rd pick.

Despite the fact that the Bucks have nabbed a few starters in the second round of the draft since 2000 (Michael Redd, Dan Gadzuric, Ersan Ilyasova, and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute) the 2nd round is a crap shot so I support the Bucks taking any of those 35 guys in the second round if they are still available.  Here are the 10 guys I like most to least that Hammond and Company should strongly consider if they are available with the 43rd pick:

Andre Roberson (SF, 6'7", 206 lbs, Colorado, 21 years old) - According to a number of advanced metrics (i.e. using college statistics to project success in the NBA), Roberson is one of the best players in the entire draft. 

Nate Wolters (PG, 6'5", 196 lbs, South Dakota State, 22 years old) - Although Wolters does not excel in any particular area, he is above average in almost every facet.  With all due respect to Ish Smith, the only guard currently under contract for the Bucks, Wolters is already a better player than Smith.

Erik Green (PG, 6'3", 178 lbs, Virginia Tech, 22 years old) - My sister-in-law is set to receive her PhD from Virginia Tech next season so I've developed a soft spot in my heart for the university.  Even leaving that bias aside, Green was one of the most potent scorers in college basketball last year, which makes him a great combo guard off the bench next season with the potential to start in a few season.

Archie Goodwin (SG, 6'5", 196 lbs, Kentucky, 18 years old) - Although Goodwin's shot is a work in progress at best, under the tutelage of new Milwaukee Bucks assistant coach Nick Van Exel, I see Goodwin as Jodie Meeks 2.0.

Grant Jerrett (PF, 6'10", 232 lbs, Arizona, 19 years old) - Still not sure why Jerrett entered the draft after his freshman season but the Bucks can treat next season as a red-shirt season for Jarrett to ease his transition to the NBA.

Lorenzo Brown (PG, 6'5", 189 lbs, N.C. State, 22 years old) - Although Brown is technically a point guard, his shot is so deficient right now that teams will concede anything more than a mid-range jumpers until he fixes his shot.  Even if Brown cannot develop a consistent shot in the NBA, worst case scenario his speed and passing ability mean he will be a quality backup point guard in the league for a long time.

Trevor Mbajwe (PF, 6'8", 236 lbs, Minnesota, 24 years old) - I had a well documented man-crush on Kenneth Faried heading into the 2011 NBA Draft so I was immediately sold when some scouts pegged Mbajwe as a poor man's Kenneth Faried.

Seth Curry (SG, 6'3", 179 lbs, Duke, 22 years old) - His dad (Dell) and brother (Stephen) are two of the deadliest long-range shooters in NBA history so we know Seth has the shooting gene.  Some might think 43 is too early since most pundits think he will go undrafted but I am fine with the Bucks taking Curry because of his otherworldly shooting ability.

Phil Pressey (PG, 6'0", 177 lbs, Missouri, 22 years old) - Speaking of bloodlines, Phil's father Paul was one of the best Bucks in the 80's.  Although I have lower expectations for Phil, I still see him contributing next season based on his collegiate production.

Marko Todorovic (SF, 6'11", 245 lbs, Serbia, 21 years old) - Although Todorovic will give the Bucks nothing for a few years, with the proper seasoning in Europe, we might be looking at the second coming of Ersan Illyasova.

With how I think the Bucks should approach the second round of the 2013 NBA Draft documented, make sure to read my thoughts on how the Bucks should approach the first round of the 2013 NBA Draft later today and with my "what each GM should do" mock draft of the first round tomorrow.

2012 First Round NBA Mock Draft

Much like I said last year, undoubtedly there will be a ton of trades deeming this "mock" draft essentially useless but I want to get on record what I think each general manager should do with each pick:

1. New Orleans Hornets - Anthony Davis (PF, 6'11", 222 lbs, 9'0" reach, 7'6" wingspan, Kentucky, 19 years old) - The biggest lock to go #1 overall since the 2003 NBA Draft when LeBron James was the first pick.

2. Charlotte Bobcats - Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (SF, 6'8", 233 lbs, 8'9" reach, 7'0" wingspan, Kentucky, 18 years old) - Will start for the Bobcats on opening night next season at small forward, especially after the Bobcats shipped Corey Maggette to Detroit for Ben Gordon and a protected first round pick in the 2013 NBA Draft.  Great trade for the Bobcats, not something that occurs very often but now that techno-genius general manager Rich Cho is running the front office, look for the Bobcats to improve despite losing the Davis Sweepstakes even though they had the best odds of winning the lottery. 

3. Washington Wizards - Bradley Beal (SG, 6'5", 202 lbs, 8'3" reach, 6'8" wingspan, Florida, 18 years old) - Despite my man crush for Jordan Crawford, Beal gives the Wizards the perfect shooting guard to compliment point guard John Wall. 

4. Cleveland Cavaliers - Harrison Barnes (SF, 6'8", 228 lbs, 8'6" reach, 6'10" wingspan, UNC, 20 years old) - The Cavs would love to get Beal but Barnes makes just as much sense. 

5. Sacramento Kings - Thomas Robinson (PF, 6'9", 244 lbs, 8'10" reach, 7'4" wingspan, Kansas, 21 years old) - Could go as high as 2nd overall on talent but Robinson doesn't feel like the right fit for anyone until the Kings so they should be ecstatic to add get Robinson without having to trade up in the draft. 

6. Portland Trail Blazers (via Brooklyn Nets) -  Andre Drummond (C, 7'0", 279 lbs, 9'2" reach, 7'6" wingspan, UConn, 18 years old) - Forget the curse of Sam Bowie and Greg Oden ... Drummond has the highest upside of any player in the draft unfortunately he has one of the lowest floors as well.

7. Golden State Warriors - Damian Lillard (SG, 6'3", 189 lbs, 8'0" reach, 6'8" wingspan, Weber State, 21 years old) - Hard to say whether Lillard is a good stats against bad competition guy or a stud that will step up his game at the next level.

8. Toronto Raptors - Dion Waiters (SG, 6'4", 221 lbs, 8'2" reach, 6'7" wingspan, Syracuse, 20 years old) - Has Top 5 potential so this is a nice value at 8. 

9. Detroit Pistons - John Henson (PF, 6'10", 216 lbs, 9'2" reach, 7'5" wingspan, UNC, 21 years old) - Needs to add 20 pounds of muscle if he wants to play a real power forward/center but if Henson can add the aforementioned muscle mass he could be the second best player in the draft. 

10. New Orleans Hornets (via Minnesota Timberwolves) - Perry Jones (PF, 6'11", 234 lbs, 8'11" reach, 7'2" wingspan, Baylor, 20 years old) - Would have gone in the Top 5 in the 2011 NBA Draft so getting him with the 10th pick in the 2012 NBA Draft shows that good things come to those who wait. 

11. Portland Trail Blazers - Austin Rivers (SG, 6'5", 203 lbs, 8'1" reach, 6'7" wingspan, Duke, 19 years old) - After adding a center with the 5th pick, getting a shooter makes a ton of sense. 

12. Houston Rockets (via Milwaukee Bucks) - Meyers Leonard (C, 7'1", 250 lbs, 9'1" reach, 7'3" wingspan, Illinois, 20 years old) - This seems like a boom-or-bust pick that I totally support because Leonard feels like a potential All-Star if he can focus. 

13. Phoenix Suns - Jeremy Lamb (SG, 6'5", 179 lbs, 8'5" reach, 6'11" wingspan, UConn, 20 years old) - I wonder whether the fact that Rivers comes from NBA bloodlines (father currently coaches the Boston Celtics) is making me undervalue Lamb because it feels like Lamb should go somewhere in the Top 10 on talent alone but I just couldn't find a spot for him. 

14. Milwaukee Bucks (via Houston Rockets) - Tyler Zeller (C, 7'0", 247 lbs, 8'8" reach, 7'0" wingspan, UNC, 22 years old) - After trading down as a part of the Dalembert trade, I still think it makes sense to draft a center. Zeller feels a little bit like Tyler Hansbrough 2.0 in terms of motor plus three inches of height.  Zeller doesn't have as much potential upside as Leonard but has a much higher floor than Leonard. 

15. Philadelphia 76ers - Terrence Jones (PF, 6'10", 252 lbs, 8'10" reach, 7'2" wingspan, Kentucky, 20 years old) - Seeing a guy like Jones drop out of the lottery speaks to the depth of this draft.  The first five players seem like locks but from 6 to 20 it seems like they all have an equal chance of success. 

16. Houston Rockets (via New York Knicks) - Terrence Ross (SG, 6'7", 197 lbs, 8'5" reach, 6'7" wingspan, Washington, 21 years old) - A lanky scorer is exactly what the Rockets need, which is exactly what they will get in Ross. 

17. Dallas Mavericks - Moe Harkless (SF, 6'9", 207 lbs, 8'8" reach, 7'0" wingspan, St. John's, 21 years old) - I hate to besmirch a guy with the first name Moe but he has Marcus Haslip written all over him so I probably should have put him lower.

18. Houston Rockets (via Minnesota Timberwolves via Utah Jazz) - Arnett Moultrie (PF, 6'11", 233 lbs, 8'11" reach, 7'2" wingspan, Mississippi St., 21 years old) - Hard to pass on a quality body that can play anywhere from 3 to 5 with the 18th pick.

19. Orlando Magic - Kendall Marshall (PG, 6'4", 198 lbs, 7'11" reach, 6'6" wingspan, UNC, 20 years old) - Jameer Nelson has always been a ho-hum point guard, Marshall looks to have a slightly bigger upside but adding a guy like Marshall feels uninspired if they are trying to entice Dwight Howard to stay in Orlando. 

20. Denver Nuggets - Marquis Teague (PG, 6'2", 180 lbs, 8'3" reach, 6'7" wingspan, Kentucky, 19 years old) - I can't necessarily blame Teague for entering the draft but another season in college most likely would have cemented him as a Top 10 and possibly a Top 5 pick. 

21. Boston Celtics - Royce White (SF, 6'8", 261 lbs, 8'9" reach, 7'0" wingspan, Iowa State, 21 years old) - Might be the lock of the draft if all the reports are true.  With how hot White's stock has been over the last week though, I could actually see him going higher in the draft so the Celtics might have to trade up if they are that enamored with White. 

22. Boston Celtics (via L.A. Clippers) - Fab Melo (C, 7'0", 255 lbs, 9'2" reach, 7'2" wingspan, Syracuse, 22 years old) - I would be shocked if the Celtics didn't resign KG, which will make him a great task master to keep Melo in line and help him fulfill his potential. 

23. Atlanta Hawks - Andrew Nicholson (PF, 6'10", 234 lbs, 8'11" reach, 7'4" wingspan, St. Bonaventure, 22 years old) - Always hard to project how small school guys will do in the pros but with Nicholson's wingspan he is well worth the risk. 

24. Cleveland Cavaliers (via L.A. Lakers) - Quincy Miller (SF, 6'10", 219 lbs, 9'1" reach, 7'1" wingspan, Baylor, 19 years old) - I so wanted to give the Cavs an up and coming point guard to make the Ramon Session trade even more preposterous than it already is but with Kyrie Irving in the fold, it doesn't make sense for the Cavs to draft a center.  As a result, I gave them what might be the steal of the draft at 24 since I see Miller as borderline lottery pick talent. 

25. Memphis Grizzlies - Tony Wroten Jr. (PG, 6'6", 203 lbs, 8'5" reach, 6'9" wingspan, Washington, 19 years old) - More of a passer than a shooter but seems to have the passing gene, which as Ricky Rubio showed, is an innate quality that can very rarely be taught. 

26. Indiana Pacers - Jared Sullinger (PF, 6'9", 268 lbs, 8'11" reach, 7'1" wingspan, Ohio State, 20 years old) - Taking Sullinger in the Top 15 seemed ridiculous to me even before the revelations about his creaky back.  For Sullinger's sake I hope I am wrong but he feels like the second coming of Tractor Traylor. 

27. Miami Heat - Draymond Green (SF, 6'8", 236 lbs, 8'10" reach, 7'1" wingspan, Michigan State, 22 years old) - No one thing stands out about Green's game, he's just an all around solid player.

28. Oklahoma City Thunder - Evan Fournier (SG, 6'7", 206 lbs, 8'7" reach, 6'8" wingspan, France, 19 years old) - Hitting home runs is a lot harder in the late twenties than in the Top 5.  Fournier has the talent to be draft a much higher pick but it's not clear whether he will play in the NBA next year or will stay in Europe for a few more years so his stock took a slight hit. 

29. Chicago Bulls - Will Barton (SG, 6'6", 174 lbs, 8'7" reach, 6'10" wingspan, Memphis, 21 years old) - Didn't project to go in the first round when the draft process started but Barton is the perfect example of how the draft process helps certain guys by giving them exposure to teams to help push them up draft boards. 

30. Golden State Warriors (via San Antonio Spurs) - Jeff Taylor (SF, 6'7", 212 lbs, 8'9" reach, 6'11" wingspan, Vanderbilt, 23 years old) - A great pick because Taylor plays great defense, which is a rare commodity for the Warriors since historically they play absolutely no defense.

Related Posts:
- Wednesday What (Might) Happen - 2012 NBA Draft First Round Preview for the Bucks
- Quick Thoughts - Bucks/Rockets 2012 NBA Draft Day Eve Trade
- Wednesday What (Might) Happen - 2012 NBA Draft Second Round Preview for the Bucks
- Wednesday What (Should) Happen - Advice for John Hammond

2012 NBA Draft First Round Preview for John Hammond

The NBA Draft is more of an exact science in terms of coverage than the NFL Draft because there is a smaller pool of players to focus on since the NBA Draft involves only 60 picks while the 2012 NFL Draft had 253 picks.

I previewed some guys I thought the Bucks should target in the second round with the 42nd pick, now let's move onto the first round of the 2012 NBA Draft.

In case you missed it, the Milwaukee Bucks made a trade with the Houston Rockets.  Despite getting Samuel Dalembert, presumably their starting center now for next season as a part of the trade, the Bucks should still consider adding a center with the 14th pick.  In fact I am fine with the Bucks taking a player at any position besides point guard.

I am going to publish my "mock" draft for the first round of the 2012 NBA Draft tomorrow.  In a preview of coming attractions, I would be shocked if these guys were not the first nine players (listed in alphabetical order) selected in the 2012 NBA Draft thus they will most likely not be available at the 14th pick for the Bucks: Harrison Barnes (SF, 6'8", 228 lbs, 8'6" reach, 6'10" wingspan, UNC, 20 years old), Bradley Beal (SG, 6'5", 202 lbs, 8'3" reach, 6'8" wingspan, Florida, 18 years old), Anthony Davis (PF, 6'11", 222 lbs, 9'0" reach, 7'6" wingspan, Kentucky, 19 years old), Andre Drummond (C, 7'0", 279 lbs, 9'2" reach, 7'6" wingspan, UConn, 18 years old), Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (SF, 6'8", 233 lbs, 8'9" reach, 7'0" wingspan, Kentucky, 18 years old), John Henson (PF, 6'10", 216 lbs, 9'2" reach, 7'5" wingspan, UNC, 21 years old), Damian Lillard (SG, 6'3", 189 lbs, 8'0" reach, 6'8" wingspan, Weber State, 21 years old), Thomas Robinson (PF, 6'9", 244 lbs, 8'10" reach, 7'4" wingspan, Kansas, 21 years old), and Dion Waiters (SG, 6'4", 221 lbs, 8'2" reach, 6'7" wingspan, Syracuse, 20 years old).

Obviously I would support the Bucks taking anyone listed above besides Lillard.  With the nine bell cows of the draft out of the way (you can read my quick thoughts on each of them tomorrow). That leaves a pool of 10 guys the Bucks should target along with another 10 guys that feel like reaches at the 14th pick in the draft.  Here are my Top 10 realistic targets in order:

#1) Meyers Leonard (C, 7'1", 250 lbs, 9'1" reach, 7'3" wingspan, Illinois, 20 years old) - My draft crush on Leonard started months ago but most mock drafts had Leonard as a borderline lottery pick.  As the player evaluation process has played out over the last few months, unfortunately Leonard has shot up draft boards and looks like a potential Top 10 pick.

#2) Tyler Zeller (C, 7'0", 247 lbs, 8'8" reach, 7'0" wingspan, UNC, 22 years old) - Perfect running mate for Brandon Jennings and Monta Ellis.  I question whether Zeller will ever be able to add enough muscle to be able to play with his back to the basket but he would be fun to watch as the center for the running and gunning Bucks.

#3) Austin Rivers (SG, 6'5", 203 lbs, 8'1" reach, 6'7" wingspan, Duke, 19 years old) - Don't like that Rivers is too cool to visit the Bucks because there is a very good chance that he will still be on the board at 14.  This is probably not a good time to remind people that Yi Jianlian also refused to workout for the Bucks.

#4) Jeremy Lamb (SG, 6'5", 179 lbs, 8'5" reach, 6'11" wingspan, UConn, 20 years old) - Injuries limited Lamb's ability to workout for teams the last few days but his body of work at UConn shows he is worthy of being the 14th pick in the 2012 NBA Draft

#5) Terrence Ross (SG, 6'7", 197 lbs, 8'5" reach, 6'7" wingspan, Washington, 21 years old) - If Ross went to a bigger program than Washington I would probably have him ranked higher on this list.  Either way, Ross looks like a flat our scorer that could step in for Monta Ellis when he declines his $11 million player option for the 2013-14 NBA season. 

#6) Terrence Jones (PF, 6'10", 252 lbs, 8'10" reach, 7'2" wingspan, Kentucky, 20 years old) - Despite having what feels like 10 power forwards on the current roster, Jones looks the next Vin Baker sans the drinking problem so it might be too enticing to pass on Jones.

#7) Perry Jones (PF, 6'11", 234 lbs, 8'11" reach, 7'2" wingspan, Baylor, 20 years old) - Let's make it two Jonesi in a row.  Drafting Perry Jones would give the Bucks two former Baylor power forwards.  Although Baylor is starting to build a quality program, not sure any NBA teams needs more than one Baylor power forward.

#8) Fab Melo (C, 7'0", 255 lbs, 9'2" reach, 7'2" wingspan, Syracuse, 22 years old) - More of a positional pick than a talent pick but an interesting selection if the Bucks think they can motivate Melo.

#9) Quincy Miller (SF, 6'10", 219 lbs, 9'1" reach, 7'1" wingspan, Baylor, 19 years old) - Miller has a huge upside much like his collegiate teammate Perry Jones but is coming off a serious knee injury, which makes me very nervous.

#10) Moe Harkless (SF, 6'9", 207 lbs, 8'8" reach, 7'0" wingspan, St. John's, 21 years old) - There are certain guys in every draft that I can't put my finger on why I dislike.  Harkless is that exact guy for me this year.  If the Bucks end up taking Harkless I can make one guarantee, I will never buy his jersey on principle alone.  Even if Harkless turns into a First Team All-NBA player, it will always bother me that I didn't see it so I will be forced to shun Harkless forever just because of this short paragraph about him.  If you are wondering, yes I am hoping I just reversed jinxed Harkless into becoming an NBA superstar for the Bucks.


I would be shocked if the Bucks passed on any of the aforementioned 19 players described in favor of any of the next 10 guys.  Just in case, here are my quick thoughts on the "next 10" guys:

- Marquis Teague (PG, 6'2", 180 lbs, 8'3" reach, 6'7" wingspan, Kentucky, 19 years old) - I almost included Teague in the Top 10 players to target despite Brandon Jennings being the best player currently on the roster. Teague could be the next Rajon Rondo a few years down the road but the Bucks need to win now so I can't see them reaching for Teague. 

- Tony Wroten Jr. (PG, 6'6", 203 lbs, 8'5" reach, 6'9" wingspan, Washington, 19 years old) - Like his teammate Terrence Ross slightly more but Wroten seems like a boom-or-bust prospect that should go in the early 20's.

- Draymond Green (SF, 6'8", 236 lbs, 8'10" reach, 7'1" wingspan, Michigan State, 22 years old) - The definition of a non-sexy first round pick will be productive early in his NBA career because of his ability to score.

- Arnett Moultrie (PF, 6'11", 233 lbs, 8'11" reach, 7'2" wingspan, Mississippi St., 21 years old) - If Moultrie played for a bigger program I would have given him more credence but I frankly didn't see him play enough against legitimate competition to get a good enough feel.

- Royce White (SF, 6'8", 261 lbs, 8'9" reach, 7'0" wingspan, Iowa State, 21 years old) - Apparently the Celtics love White and I actually share their sentiments.  Keep in mind that unless the Celtics make a trade they own the 21st and 22nd picks in the first round of the 2012 NBA Draft.  That is a long way of saying that White may be a good pro but taking him 14th overall feels too early.

- Evan Fournier (SG, 6'7", 206 lbs, 8'7" reach, 6'8" wingspan, France, 19 years old) - Intriguing prospect that the Bucks should target if they trade back in the first round. 

- Kendall Marshall (PG, 6'4", 198 lbs, 7'11" reach, 6'6" wingspan, UNC, 20 years old) - Teague and Wroten seem to have a ton more potential than Marshall so if the Bucks are going to take a point guard, I hope they swing for the fences with Teague or Wroten instead of Marshall. 

- Andrew Nicholson (PF, 6'10", 234 lbs, 8'11" reach, 7'4" wingspan, St. Bonaventure, 22 years old) - As I said earlier, its always hard to project how small school guys will do in the pros so I say pass on Nicholson until models can better account for how small school guys project at the next level. 

- Jared Sullinger (PF, 6'9", 268 lbs, 8'11" reach, 7'1" wingspan, Ohio State, 20 years old) - Injuries aside I would not touch new-school Tractor Traylor with a 10-foot pole.

- Will Barton (SG, 6'6", 174 lbs, 8'7" reach, 6'10" wingspan, Memphis, 21 years old) - A guy like Barton, much like Ross and Wroten, are intriguing because they all bring length to the shooting guard position but again Barton is not worth the 14th pick...may be the 24th pick...not the 14th pick.

Thanks for sticking around to hear my rambling thoughts on the 20 most likely guys that the Bucks should target.  Check back tomorrow for my full first round "mock" draft, which is a depiction of what I would do if I were the general manager of each team and had to make a selection instead of trading the pick.


Related Posts:
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2012 NBA Draft Second Round Preview for John Hammond

It's hard to speculate on who will be available when the Milwaukee Bucks choose a player with the 42nd pick in the 2012 NBA Draft so this is less prognostication and more conjecture.  I broke the players that I think the Bucks should target into tiers, differently than how I handled this post last year, to give Milwaukee Bucks general manager John Hammond and Company some players to strongly should consider drafting in the second round of the 2012 NBA Draft:

Second Round Centers:

All of the players listed here (and some others that I left off the list to keep this post manageable) look like fine back-up NBA centers thus I support the Bucks drafting any of these guys in the second round since it is such a need: Henry Sims (C, 7'0", 241 lbs, Georgetown, 22 years old), Festus Ezeli (C, 7'0", 264 lbs, Vanderbilt, 22 years old), Garrett Stutz (C, 7'0", 255 lbs, Wichita State, 22 years old), Robert Sacre (C, 7'0", 263 lbs, Gonzaga, 23 years old), and Kyle O'Quinn (C, 6'10", 241 lbs, Norfolk State, 22 years old).

Foreign Affair:

All of the players listed here (and some others that I left off the list to keep this post manageable) look like second round talents that the Bucks could stash in Europe for a few years (think Ersan Illyasova) to mature before they are subjected to the rigors of the NBA: Furkan Aldemir (PF, 6'9", 220 lbs, Turkey, 20 years old), Kostas Papanikolaou (SF, 6'8", 230 lbs, Greece, 21 years old), Tomas Satoransky (SG, 6'8", 201 lbs, Czach Republic, 20 years old), Tornike Shengelia (SF, 6'9" 220 lbs, Georgia, 20 years old), and Kostas Sloukas (PG, 6'3", 210 lbs, Greece, 22 years old).

Battle Tested Collegiate Veterans:

This used to be a compliment but the NBA Draft is all about potential instead of production.  As a result, I think its time for GM's to start looking at actual production instead of potential.  All these guys proved in college that they can be a consistent rotation guy in the NBA:

- Robbie Hummel (SF, 6'9", 218 lbs, Purdue, 23 years old) - Feels a little like DeJuan Blair in terms of injury history.  If Hummel stayed healthy in college he would have been a lottery pick, which makes taking him in the middle of the second round a reasonable gamble. 
- Darius Miller (SF, 6'8", 233 lbs, Kentucky, 22 years old) - With how much talent Kentucky brings in each year, its more of a compliment to the program than a knock on Miller that he never really started in college.
- Quincy Acy (SF, 6'6", 224 lbs, Baylor, 21 years old) - Baylor is slowly turning into an NBA factory.  If the Bucks added Acy that would give them two Baylor players, which is two more than I would have ever guessed. 
- John Shurna (SF, 6'8", 222 lbs, Northwestern, 22 years old) - This is the 4th small forward in a row that I targeted for the Bucks.  Although it is not a huge need, Shurna is an absolute sharp shooter from long distance.  In fact he reminds me a little of Steve Novak, which until a year ago would not have been a huge compliment, but now is enough to rationalize taking him.
- Chris Johnson (SG, 6'6", 184, lbs, Dayton, 22 years old) - I already turned my father-in-law into a Packers fan and he loves all things Dayton basketball so if the Bucks draft Johnson I might be able to convert him into a Bucks fan as well.

Collegiate Cheeseheads:

Some might think that these are no brainer "pandering" picks like drafting Jon Leuer in the second round of the 2012 NBA but as Leuer showed last year and all these guys below will show in the years to come, they all have a place in the NBA:

- Jae Crowder (SF, 6'7", 241 lbs, Marquette, 21 years old) - Although Crowder didn't work out for the Bucks, they know what Crowder brings to the table ... a high energy guy that provides instant offense and above average defense. 
- Darius Johnson-Odom (SF, 6'3", 212 lbs, Marquette, 22 years old) - Unlike Crowder, DJO actually worked out for the Bucks.  DJO projects as a hybrid PG/SG and would be a great guy to takeover the swing backup guard spot for Beno Udrih for the 2013-14 NBA season. 
- Jordan Taylor (PG, 6'2", 193 lbs, Wisconsin, 22 years old) - How the mighty have fallen.  Taylor had a great junior year followed by a lackluster senior year.  I am guessing that Taylor falls somewhere in between his junior year and senior year in terms of NBA production. Although Taylor projects more as a free agent than a draftable guy, if the Bucks trade back in the second round they should definitely draft Taylor because it is always risky counting on being able to sign rookie free agents after the draft since 29 other teams are involved.

Check back next Wednesday for my look at potential first round targets for the Milwaukee Bucks in the and next Thursday for my first round "mock" draft.


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Advice for John Hammond for Building 2011-12 Milwaukee Bucks

Let's put the presumptive NBA lockout aside for the purposes of this post and assume that there will in fact be a 2011-12 NBA Season. Much like I did for Ted Thompson following Super Bowl XLV, here is my best advice for how general manger John Hammond should proceed going into the 2011-12 NBA Season:

Point Guard:
- Under Contract for 2011: Brandon Jennings and Keyon Dooling
- Restricted Free Agent: None
- Free Agent: Earl Boykins
- Advice: Despite my love for short guys because I am a card carrying member of the short guy club, let Boykins leave via free agency. After that, fortify the back-up point guard position with an upgrade over Dooling via trade, the draft, or free agency. I say an upgrade over Dooling because not only will an upgrade over Dooling give Jennings a breather but the Bucks need someone that will actually push Jennings to play better. During his rookie season Jennings had Luke Ridnour pushing him to play better but for his sophomore campaign he didn't really have a guy that pushed him. Finally if someone wants Dooling for a bag of balls, trade him. The only reason to hold onto Dooling is to include him in a trade deadline deal for salary cap purposes.


Shooting Guard:
- Under Contract for 2011: John Salmons
- Restricted Free Agent: Chris Douglas-Roberts
- Unrestricted Free Agent: Michael Redd
- Advice: Unfortunately Salmons looks like the presumptive starter heading into next season. After that, unless Michael Redd wants to pay to play for the Bucks next year, let him walk because a 30-something shooting guard that is coming off two massive knee surgeries the last two seasons is not an ideal back-up shooting guard. After that, tender CDR. Unfortunately it seems like the writing is on the wall that the Bucks want to move on without him but much like Dooling, CDR is worth being a salary cap consideration in a trade deadline deal.


Small Forward:
- Under Contract for 2011: Carlos Delfino and Corey Maggette
- Restricted Free Agent: None
- Unrestricted Free Agent: None
- Advice: If you can move Corey Maggette, do it as long as you don't take on more years or a more expensive contract. After that, decide what the long-term plan is for Carlos Delfino because he is in the last year of the three-year, $10.5 million deal that seems like highway robbery by NBA standards.


Power Forward:
- Under Contract for 2011: Drew Gooden, Ersan Ilyasova, Larry Sanders, and Jon Brockman
- Restricted Free Agent: Luc Richard Mbah a Moute
- Unrestricted Free Agent: None
- Advice: Tender The Prince (Luc Richard Mbah a Moute). That will allow the Bucks to match any offer that The Prince gets. In terms of how much money the Bucks should commit to The Prince, match any offer he gets as long as it is less than the mid-level exception because he is hands down the best defender on the current roster. Every time I have a chance to say it I will, Ilyasova a poor let me stress poor man's Dirk Nowitzki. As a result, Ilyasova deserves every chance possible to be on the court. After that, how many tall trees that aren't that good can the Bucks have? Brockman seems like nothing more than a practice player despite the fact that I love his motor, Sanders looks like a long-term project, and Gooden just needs to get healthy. Please don't draft a power forward in the first round of the 2011 NBA Draft unless his name is Bismack Biyombo or Kenneth Faried.


Center:
- Under Contract for 2011: Andrew Bogut
- Restricted Free Agent: None
- Unrestricted Free Agent: None
- Advice: Clearly Bogut was not 100% last year after a freakish injury cut his 2009-10 season short. Unfortunately the Bucks continue to add tweener power forward/centers (Gooden and Sanders) that don't really give the Bucks a legitimate center option besides Bogut. At the very least the Bucks should take a flier on a big guy in the second round of the 2011 NBA Draft to help out Bogut.