Top Bucks Draft Prospects (2021)
Enough celebrating, it’s time to move on to the offseason (just kidding, never stop celebrating). The 2021 NBA draft is upon us, and although there has been talk about the Bucks potentially trading the 31st pick for a veteran, here are some of the top potential prospects for them if they decide to keep that pick.
Note: Each section is ordered from favorite to least favorite prospect in that section, but these are all picks that I like for the Bucks. Players are classified as Guard (G), Wing (W), or Forward (F).
UNLIKELY TO BE AVAILABLE:
Jared Butler (G - Baylor)
6’2”, 193 lbs
16.7 pts / 4.8 ast / 2.0 stl / 41.6% 3P
The chances are slim, but it would be a dream scenario if Jared Butler falls to the 31st pick for the Bucks. He would be a fantastic point guard to have on just about any NBA team, as he can do just about everything well. He handles the ball well, shoots it at a high clip, has become a great playmaker, and defends at a high level. He is also a proven winner who just led Baylor to a national title about 4 months ago. Given all of his strengths, he has a high floor and should be able to come in and make an impact right away for whichever team he ends up with. If Butler is somehow there when the Bucks are on the clock, he is the pick.
Grade for Bucks: 9.7/10
Cameron Thomas (G - LSU)
6’4”, 210 lbs
23.0 pts / 32.5% 3P / 55% TS / 88% FT
It’s very unlikely he falls to the Bucks, but Cam Thomas is the definiton of a bucket-getter. He can score at all 3 levels extremely well, especially the midrange, and he gets to the line a lot (7.6 FTA per game) and converts free throws at an extremely high rate (88%). He is a tough shot maker and can drain stepbacks, pull-ups, turnarounds, you name it. His confidence is never an issue, as he will take and make deep, difficult shots. He also has good athleticism that helps him as a scorer inside, in transition, and in the pick and roll. However, like most players of his type, his decision-making and shot selection is questionable at times, and he isn’t a very focused defender (though he could improve defensively with his athleticism). Still, if the Bucks are losing Bobby Portis, Cam Thomas is someone who could fill that bench scoring role for the Bucks, but he would need to fall in the draft first.
Grade for Bucks: 9.3/10
Jaden Springer (G - Tennessee)
6’3”, 202 lbs
12.5 pts / 2.9 ast / 44.4% 3P / 58% TS
Springer is a bigger guard who is great defensively both on and off the ball. His size and strength help him get to the rim offensively and finish in the half court, and he is a nice scorer and facilitator in transition. He is a good decision-maker, intelligent, and always in control. The downside with him is that he isn’t the most skilled or polished offensive scorer, and his shot is still a work in progress (solid percentage, but low volume). His game is reminiscent of Malcolm Brogdon (smart on both ends, but not extremely explosive or skillful). If his jumper can improve, he will be a very nice player, and someone who the Bucks would be lucky to get with the 31st pick.
Grade for Bucks: 9.2/10
COULD BE AVAILABLE:
Miles McBride (G - West Virginia)
6’1”, 195 lbs
15.9 pts / 4.8 ast / 41.4% 3P / 54% TS
Deuce McBride is a more realistic option to get with the 31st pick compared to guys mentioned above, but he would be nearly just as good. Like Jared Butler, he can do a lot of things well and seems destined for a solid NBA career. He is a great playmaker, shooter, and defender who reminds many of a younger Jrue Holiday. His motor and relentlessness on defense makes him very intriguing as a prospect. Here he is giving Cade Cunningham fits:
McBride isn’t quite the ball handler or offensive player that Jared Butler is, but he is going to be better defensively and has a better chance to be available with the 31st pick. He would be a fantastic selection as a backup guard for the Bucks.
Grade for Bucks: 9.3/10
Ayo Dosunmu (G - Illinois)
6’4'“, 194 lbs
20.7 pts / 5.3 ast / 6.3 reb / 38.8% 3P
A popular potential selection for the Bucks has been Ayo Dosunmu. He would be another good guard to put on the Bucks’ bench who can handle the ball, create offense, and defend well. He plays with great intensity on both ends and is yet another example of a winning player who should be able to bring good qualities to any team. He is a great transition scorer with his length and athleticism, and those qualities make him an excellent on-ball defender, too. He has room for improvement as a shooter and making more advanced passes, but Dosunmu would be a solid pick for the Bucks if he is available with the 31st pick.
Grade for Bucks: 9.1/10
Sharife Cooper (G - Auburn)
6’4”, 180 lbs
20.2 pts / 8.1 ast / 22.8% 3P /
52% TS / 83% FT
Cooper is an excellent floor general who can run an offense and is one of the better passers and playmakers in the draft. His ball-handling, quickness, intelligence, passing, and ability to get to the line (8.6 FTA per game) make him a great prospect with a lot of potential, but his shot needs to develop. He did not display a reliable jumper at all last year (just 22.8% from three), but his free throw shooting was good (83%), which is a good sign for potential development as a shooter. If he can become a slightly more polished offensive player and improve on defense, Cooper could be one of the steals of this draft.
Grade for Bucks: 9.0/10
Joshua Primo (W - Alabama)
6’4”, 189 lbs
8.1 pts / 3.4 reb / 38.1% 3P / 57% TS
His numbers don’t jump off the page at all, but Josh Primo is a 3&D guy who could fit on any NBA team, and he still has the potential to develop into even more than that. He shot 44% on catch-and-shoot threes in the half court while playing in Alabama’s high-powered, fast-paced offense, and he has a very smooth shooting stroke with deep range. He can hit corner threes and also shoot off of dribble hand-offs (similar to what the Bucks ran a lot for Tony Snell and Bryn Forbes). He also showed potential scoring off the dribble at times and using his athleticism to finish around the rim, though both areas could be improved. Primo’s catch-and-shoot ability combined with the good, tough, hard-nosed defense that he brings make him an intriguing prospect. If P.J. Tucker is gone for the Bucks, Primo could be used to fill that role a bit, and he has much more potential on offense than Tucker. Primo is one of the youngest players in the draft at only 18 years old, so he still has the chance to develop into more than just a 3&D guy. A high floor and a high ceiling? Sign me up.
Grade for Bucks: 8.8/10
Quentin Grimes (W - Houston)
6’4”, 205 lbs
17.8 pts / 5.7 reb / 40.3% 3P / 56% TS
Grimes is another 3&D option that might be available with the 31st pick for the Bucks. He shot an absurd 40.3% from three on 8.3 attempts per game last year, showing that he can make threes on extremely high volume. He makes a lot of contested shots and has NBA range. On top of his shooting ability, he is a lockdown on-ball defender and a smart off-ball defender, and he crashes the boards well and gives great effort. All of these qualities make him seem like someone who is destined to have a role in the NBA, as he can be safely relied upon to be a 3&D guy. His potential will be limited if he cannot improve his ball-handling, passing, or midrange game (20% on pull-ups inside of 15-feet), but his floor seems very high.
Grade for Bucks: 8.6/10
Tre Mann (G - Florida)
6’3”, 178 lbs
16.0 pts / 3.5 ast / 40.2% 3P / 58% TS
Mann’s potential might not be known yet, as he continues to grow which could open up his game even more. He has good handles, creativity, and shiftiness that make him almost comparable to Kemba Walker offensively. He can create space, shoot from the outside, has a great floater, and showed flashes as a scorer and passer out of the pick and roll. He needs to work on his defense and become a more crafty finisher due to his lack of explosiveness, but Mann would be a solid backup guard for the Bucks who can score and create.
Grade for Bucks: 8.3/10
Nah’Shon Hyland (G - VCU)
6’2”, 169 lbs
19.5 pts / 2.1 ast / 37.1% 3P / 60% TS
Bones Hyland is another intriguing potential pick for the Bucks with his scoring and shooting ability. He can score at all 3 levels and was a 37% three-point shooter last year on nearly 8 attempts per game. He is one of the better shooters in the class and can pull up from anywhere on the court with stepbacks and a quick release, and he was also good off the catch-and-shoot (36.6%). Hyland is very crafty around the rim with either hand, allowing him to become a very good finisher (shot 55.4% at the rim) despite his lack of strength at only 169 pounds. He also has some defensive upside given his length and quickness, as he forces steals, contests shots, and then is a good scorer in transition. Bones does have some big weaknesses though, as his ball handling and playmaking are not very good (2.1 ast and 3.1 tov per game), and he will need to become bigger and tougher to improve on defense and as a finisher at the next level. His shooting and scoring make him an intriguing pick for anyone, though.
Grade for Bucks: 8.0/10
Isaiah Todd (F - Ignite)
6’9”, 220 lbs
12.3 pts / 4.9 reb / 36.2% 3P / 53% TS
Isaiah Todd is a bigger forward who might need more time than the Bucks would like, but he is someone they may be willing to take a shot on. He can score off the catch-and-shoot, in isolation, and at the rim, and is also a good passer for his size. His athleticism and mobility give him defensive potential that could turn him into a steal. However, he needs to improve his shot selection and ability to defend on the interior in order to really unlock that potential. This is one of the more long-term picks that could potentially be worth it for the Bucks and provide them with another versatile big down the line.
Grade for Bucks: 7.7/10
SHOULD BE AVAILABLE:
Jason Preston (G - Ohio)
6’3”, 181 lbs
15.7 pts / 7.3 ast / 7.3 reb / 39.0% 3P
Preston doesn’t have the athleticism or upside as some of the other guard options, but he is veteran savvy and a winning point guard. He runs the show really well with fantastic playmaking (7.3 APG) and is incredible running the pick and roll (created 13.4 PPG out of the pick and roll). He controls the pace extremely well and has a solid jump shot and floater. His defense likely isn’t going to be great due to his lack of elite athleticism, but Preston should be a solid backup point guard in the NBA who can really excel in the pick and roll and run the offense with the 2nd unit. If guys like McBride, Dosunmu, Cooper, and Primo are all gone by the time the Bucks are on the clock, Preston would be a solid backup plan to have.
Grade for Bucks: 8.7/10
Austin Reaves (W - Oklahoma)
6’4”, 197 lbs
18.3 pts / 4.6 ast / 30.5% 3P / 58% TS
Austin Reaves is someone who the Bucks could maybe trade back and still get to be a backup ball handler off the bench. He is a great ball handler who can score at all 3 levels offensively. His shiftiness helps him get to the rim, and he excels as a finisher, even in traffic. He breaks defenders down well and gets where he wants, and he is a capable shooter both off the dribble or on the catch-and-shoot (his 87% free throw percentage also bodes well for his shooting potential). Reaves plays smart on both ends, makes winning plays, and can create opportunities for others. He is a bit undersized and not extremely quick, so his defense may be an issue at times, but he would be a great addition for the Bucks as a backup ball handler who can do many things well. Another nice backup option to have who should be available with the 31st pick.
Grade for Bucks: 8.3/10
David Johnson (G - Louisville)
6’5”, 203 lbs
12.6 pts / 5.8 reb / 38.6% 3P / 50% TS
Johnson is a great playmaker and defender, a combination that any team could use from a guard off the bench. He is a great passer in the open floor, and also is really good passing out of the pick and roll with both his left and right hand. He is versatile and can be used as a scorer and passer out of the post as well. He improved a lot as a shooter last year (from 21.7% 3P to 38.6%), particularly on the catch-and-shoot, and he has great defensive potential with his size, physicality, awareness, and toughness. He needs to work on his shot creation off the dribble (16.9% on jumpers off the dribble in the half court), and his ball security and turnovers have been an issue (4+ turnovers in 8 out of 19 games last year), but Johnson brings a lot of good qualities that the Bucks (or any team) could use from a guard off the bench.
Grade for Bucks: 8.0/10
Joel Ayayi (G - Gonzaga)
6’5”, 180 lbs
12.0 pts / 2.7 ast / 38.9% 3P / 67% TS
Joel Ayayi is a solid two-way player who should find a spot somewhere in the league for a while. Offensively, he excels as a shooter off the catch and as a cutter, and he also has shown the ability to be a nice playmaker and passer. Defensively, he is very active and gives great effort, and is a very impactful on-ball defender. He seems to make a lot of winning plays on both ends of the court and is similar to someone like Wesley Matthews. He isn’t the most athletic prospect and shouldn’t be used as a primary creator or ball handler, but Ayayi should be an impactful player off the bench right away for any team that drafts him.
Grade for Bucks: 7.7/10
