The Milwaukee Bucks are gearing up for another big season, and they can use all the help they can get.
Over the past few years, the Bucks have struggled to play at the championship level they reached in 2021. As injuries have consistently piled up in the postseason, the Bucks have won only one playoff series in the four years since winning it all.
While most of the key contributors from the championship roster have moved on, Giannis Antetokounmpo is set to return for his 13th season in Milwaukee. After an offseason filled with rumors about his future, Antetokounmpo’s time in Milwaukee doesn’t appear to be ending anytime soon.
Of course, his main goal is still to win another championship, and the Bucks must prove to him that they can build a roster of that caliber. While big swings like the Myles Turner signing are critical, it’s also important for a team with such little flexibility to hit in the draft.
Last year, the Bucks used the No. 33 pick to take Tyler Smith. As a rookie, Smith had limited playing time, but the Bucks still projected him to take another step in year two.
As The Athletic’s John Hollinger recently noted, Summer League wasn’t too encouraging for the young Buck. At 6-foot-11, Smith could be an integral piece of the Bucks’ frontcourt depth, but Hollinger’s assessment of him as the “most disappointing second-year player” might have sealed his fate for next season.
With Hollinger also mentioning the impressive play of Chris Livingston, Smith’s hope of carving out any role on Milwaukee next season might have been thwarted with his struggles in Vegas.
