Who the Milwaukee Bucks Should Target in the 2015 NBA Draft
In his first year at the helm of the Milwaukee Bucks, head coach Jason Kidd helped bring the club back to the postseason.
It was a surprising campaign in many ways, but there's ample room for improvement after their 41-41 finish. The No. 17 pick in the 2015 NBA draft offers a chance to add more talent for deeper playoff runs down the road.
Milwaukee has an exciting but young core of standouts that includes Jabari Parker, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Michael Carter-Williams. One of its brightest assets is restricted free agent Khris Middleton, and the Deer will also bring back key cogs O.J. Mayo, John Henson and Ersan Ilyasova.
Who can general manager John Hammond acquire to upgrade the roster's depth and enhance an already promising group?
With their mid-first-round selection, the Bucks could go in a number of directions. They've had success in that range in the past with players like Antetokounmpo, Henson and Larry Sanders, so they're aiming for another steal.
They landed in the bottom third of the league in points per game, offensive rating, three-point makes and rebounds, according to Basketball Reference, so those are some basic areas to target entering this offseason.
Milwaukee must eventually find a center to fill the void left by Sanders' departure. However, all of the premier centers will be off the board by No. 17, and it's not advisable to reach for a fringe first-rounder or second-rounder. So even though center is their biggest positional need, you won't find a true 5-man among these top three targets.
Target No. 1: Kevon Looney
UCLA's solid yet unspectacular freshman is a risk-reward pick who will require some patience.
Looney won't likely be a stud in the Bucks' 2016 playoff rotation but could be a potent prospect in a couple of years. As a bonus, he's a native of Milwaukee who would be quite comfortable playing close to home.
The 6'9" power forward offers length and rebounding in the frontcourt and also possesses some floor-spacing skills with his budding three-point prowess. He went 22-of-53 (42 percent) from downtown while pulling down 11.9 rebounds per 40 minutes last season. While he's not a crisp shot-creator yet, the foundation for ball-handling mastery is certainly there.
His ability to battle for boards would boost the frontcourt's competitiveness, and his shooting talent would stretch the floor for slashers like MCW and the Greek Freak.
Sam Vecenie of CBS Sports talked more about how Looney would mesh with the Bucks: "Looney fits the Bucks modus operandi of length, as he has a monster 7'3" wingspan to go with his 6'9" frame. He'd fit well within the Bucks' heavy switching on defense, as coach Steve Alford ran a lot of different defensive schemes this season at UCLA that he had to learn on the fly."
Before he really puts a dent into Eastern Conference opponents, Looney must strengthen his physique, expand his mid-range creativity and improve his defensive awareness.
Those aren't overnight fixes, so give him some time before he unleashes his full impact.
Target No. 2: Kelly Oubre
Kelly Oubre doesn't fit the rebounding and stretch-4 mold like Looney but could turn into a better overall prospect. He'd also be a nice long-term answer at small forward if Khris Middleton bolts via free agency.
The 6'7" swingman didn't dominate the college scene as a freshman. However, he flashed a lot of slashing potential, shooting fluidity and defensive tools during his lone season at Kansas.
Oubre's ball-handling skills are pretty raw, which is part of the reason his role and production were modest last year. Once he works on his weaker hand and sharpens his go-to moves, he'll be able to bounce past most NBA defenders.
His defensive aptitude looks promising. As an on-ball defender, he has quick feet and a gargantuan 7'2.25" wingspan to blanket opposing drivers. When he's away from the ball, he has shown great awareness to dart over from the weak side to help teammates.
Oubre's talent and upside has fueled some projections near the top 10, but B/R NBA Draft expert Jonathan Wasserman thinks he might fall into Milwaukee's lap at No. 17: "Expect (the Bucks) to take the top available talent, which in this scenario should be Kelly Oubre, whose lack of college production could cause him to slip a few spots in the draft. ... They can afford to wait on his development."
In an era when wing versatility is cherished, Oubre's arrival would give Milwaukee one of the most fearsome sets of swingmen/forwards in the league.
Target No. 3: R.J. Hunter
The Bucks don't have a shooting guard locked up for the future, so R.J. Hunter could be their guy.
Georgia State's prolific sharpshooter piled up the points on his Sun Belt Conference opponents, averaging 20-plus points per 40 minutes in all three years with the Panthers. He averaged 84.3 triples per year, which towered over the next-best Sun Belt upperclassman (Jelani Hewitt, with 67.5 per year).
Not only is Hunter lethal in spot-up situations, but he's great at finding shots on the move. Hunter is crafty when coming of flare screens, curl screens or pin-downs and owns enough agility to attack closeouts and score around the rim.
The 6'6" junior also has an outstanding feel for the game. Hunter's constantly aware of where he is in relation to his teammates and has the dexterity to collaborate with them as a passer and receiver.
While the Reggie Miller comparisons are a stretch at this point, he will indeed bring a dangerous mix of size, smarts and shooting to the NBA. If you're looking for a more realistic likeness, think of a poor man's Kevin Martin: an agile wing who works well with or without the ball and has a quick, low release on his shot.
He would operate seamlessly with Carter-Williams on both ends of the floor, and his shooting threat would open up lanes for Parker and Antetokounmpo. And at 21 years old, he's ready to produce early in his career.
O.J. Mayo's contract is up in 2016, and there aren't any other 2-guards signed for the long term, so Hunter would be a great choice for the backcourt.
All three of these prospects are quite different, each with their own distinct strengths and playing styles. The safest pick among them is Hunter, but the hometown youngster Looney provides the best combination of positional fit and long-term upside.
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