RealGM Analysis
2007-2008 Finish: 26-56
2008 Draft Picks: 8th, 37th
Pre-Draft 2008-09 Projected Starters:
PG Maurice Williams
SG Michael Redd
SF Bobby Simmons
PF Charlie Villanueva
C Andrew Bogut
Key Reserves:
PG Ramon Sessions
SF Desmond Mason
PF Yi Jianlian
C Dan Gadzuric
What the Bucks Do Well:
The Bucks thought they were going to have a breakout season after a 7-4 start but then went on to finish with 52 losses in their final 71 games. However, the season wasn?t a total setback.
Michael Redd continued to prove that he is one of the most dangerous shooting guards in the league. He led the team with 22.7 points per game, down from a career-high 26.7 the year before. Despite the drop in scoring, his rebounds increased from 3.7 to 4.3, and his assists went from 2.3 to a career-high 3.4 per game.
Former first overall selection Andrew Bogut finally stepped up and showed that he is in fact of male gender. He established career-highs in every major category ? points (14.3, up from 12.3), rebounds (9.7, up from 8.8), and blocked shots (1.7, up from 0.8). His shaved head must have made him more fluid on the floor in his third season in the league.
Rookie Ramon Sessions busted out of the NBDL and dazzled the fans of Milwaukee over the final 17 games of the season. He averaged a healthy 8.1 points and 7.5 assists per game in only 26.4 minutes. He put on a show with a 20 point, 24 assist game in a loss to Chicago and made fans wonder where they?d be if he was on the floor all season.
Greatest Areas of Improvement:
Upgrade at Point Guard
The Bucks may have found a sleeper in Ramon Sessions, but his season-ending hot streak was essentially that: a season-ending hot streak. There is no telling whether or not he is the real deal unless he comes to camp this upcoming season and proves he belongs at this level. Also, starter Maurice Williams has proven to be a prolific scorer, but what the Bucks need is a point guard who is a leader and can make his teammates better and play some defense.
Low Block Toughness
Andrew Bogut turned some heads last season but not enough. Their other big men, Charlie Villanueva and Yi Jianlian, both feel way too comfortable shooting from the outside. They need a powerful force inside to come in and post up against the bigger centers in the league.
Who?s Gone Number 8 Recently?
Over the past five years, the player selected with the eighth pick normally hasn?t lasted long on the team making the selection. All of the last five players taken at this slot are currently already playing for another franchise. The last two to be taken Rudy Gay and Brandan Wright didn?t even last to the end of Draft Night before switching cities. Will the Bucks trade their selection too?
2007
Brandan Wright, Charlotte Bobcats (traded to Golden State)
2006
Rudy Gay, Houston Rockets (traded to Memphis)
2005
Channing Frye, New York Knicks
2004
Rafael Araujo, Toronto Raptors
2003
T.J. Ford, Milwaukee Bucks
Who Should the Bucks Target?
For more in-depth analysis and background regarding the players that the Bucks should target in this year?s Draft, click on each player name to be redirected to Christopher Reina?s Prospect Report piece.
The Bucks have a very prolific starting backcourt that contained the team?s two leading scorers Redd and Williams, who combined to average 39.9 points per game. However, neither of them brings to the table what they can get out of Westbrook. Westbrook is a bigger point guard who brings a more dynamic offensive style to the floor. He has a knack for setting up his team and breaking down the interior defense. He can also bring it on the opposite side of the floor, and his lanky arms will cause major problems for opposing guards who try to pass over or get around him.
Augustin is the prototype of this year?s Draft for a floor general type of point guard. The Bucks are loaded with young talent but currently don?t have anyone in the driver?s seat who knows how to get them to the playoffs and beyond. Augustin brings that type of leadership and confidence that can propel this team back into the postseason.
While it may seem like DeAndre Jordan is too raw for the Bucks to take a gamble on, he has the potential to morph into a vicious monster in the paint. What a contrast to their current big men Bogut, Villanueva, and Jianlian. Jordan might develop into Dwight Howard Light and what better way to get a head start on some powerful interior scorer, reckless shot-blocking, and frightening tenacity on the boards. The Bucks' fans deserve the chance to watch Jordan develop with Redd and Williams protecting him with shots raining down from deep.
Who Do the Fans Want?
According to Andrew Perna?s Milwaukee Bucks Lottery Summit, an interactive column featuring the responses of true RealGM hoops fans hoping to add their two cents to the Bucks Draft discussion, the fans of Milwaukee have made it known that they would an upgrade at the point guard position. The consensus of the Milwaukee faithful wanted to trade the pick; otherwise, they suggested whom they want the eighth overall selection in the 2008 NBA Draft:
Russell Westbrook, PG ? UCLA
Picks Over the Past Five Years
The Bucks haven?t made the most of their picks in recent years. They started out well by taking the speedy point guard T.J. Ford out of Texas. But they had no picks in 2004, and used the first overall pick in 2005 on Bogut instead of Chris Paul or Deron Williams and then took Jianlian despite his blatant disinterest in playing for Milwaukee. They could have snagged Corey Brewer or Brandan Wright with their sixth overall selection instead, two guys who would have made much less of a fuss and been honored to wear the Milwaukee green.
2007
Yi Jianlian, 6th
Ramon Sessions, 56th
2006
David Noel, 39th
2005
Andrew Bogut, 1st
Ersan Ilyasova, 36th
2004
None
2003
T.J. Ford, 8th
Szymon Szewczyk, 35th
Keith Bogans, 43rd
Previous Editions of the 30 Teams, 30 Days Series
30 Teams, 30 Days: Chicago Draft Preview
30 Teams, 30 Days: Miami Draft Preview
30 Teams, 30 Days: Minnesota Draft Preview
30 Teams, 30 Days: Seattle Draft Preview
30 Teams, 30 Days: Memphis Draft Preview
30 Teams, 30 Days: New York Draft Preview
30 Teams, 30 Days: LA Clippers Draft Preview
Whom do you want the Bucks to draft at number 8? Feel free to contact Jason M. Williams with your thoughts. He can be reached at Jason.Williams@RealGM.com for comments and questions.