Should the Milwaukee Bucks target a big man or go with a wing with their first round pick in the 2024 NBA Draft?
After another early playoff exit, the Milwaukee Bucks must turn their focus to the future. With two more years of Damian Lillard, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Khris Middleton under contract, the Bucks will aggressively build a team for playoff success before their championship window closes.
The team has little cap space, so its best chance of acquiring talent is through the 2024 NBA Draft. The Bucks own the 23rd and 33rd picks in the draft, and these are four players the Bucks should target with their first-round pick.
Kel’el Ware (Center), Indiana
Athletic seven-footers with a developed offensive game are difficult to find. Indiana center Kel’el Ware fits that description and could be available to the Bucks at pick number 23. Ware lives above the rim, finished ninth in the country in 2023-24 with 63 dunks while also blocking 1.9 blocks per contest. He is more than just a rim-runner though. Ware hit 42.5% of his threes last season for the Hoosiers (albeit on just 40 attempts) and has the ability to develop into a floor spacing big man à la Karl Anthony Towns or Myles Turner.
Kel’el Ware has shown he can dominate games, he just needs to become a more consistent player in the NBA.
DaRon Holmes (Forward), Dayton
DaRon Holmes was in college what teams will hope Kel’el Ware becomes in the NBA. Holmes was a dominant player on both ends of the floor for Dayton, earning Consensus Second Team All-American status in 2024. The Flyers forward averaged 20.4 PPG and 8.5 RPG while shooting 38.6% from deep on a decent volume (83 attempts in 33 games).
The concern for Holmes is he lack of experience and production against high-level opponents, having played three years in the Atlantic 10. If his athleticism carries over, Holmes could be a steal late in the first round as a slightly older big man who can play right away in the NBA.
Kyshawn George (Wing), Miami (FL)
If the Bucks decide to go after a wing in the first round, Miami’s Kyshawn George is one of the most intriguing players on the board. Offensively, the 20-year-old is limited, as 130 of his 190 field goal attempts for the Hurricanes as a freshman came from beyond the arc. But George was a long-range marksman, shooting 40.8% from deep and upping the mark to 43.2% in ACC play. He is also an underrated creator, averaging 2.2 APG as a low-usage player.
It is on the defensive end of the floor where George thrives. He is 6-7 with a 6-10 wingspan, making him a versatile defender. Kyshawn George still needs polishing on both ends of the ball, but he is an intriguing one-and-done prospect who checks all of the boxes for the Bucks.
Yves Missi (Center), Baylor
While he might not have the floor spacing potential and refined offensive game of Da’Ron Holmes or Kel’el Ware, Yves Missi’s length, athleticism, and defensive prowess give him tremendous upside. At 6-10 with a 7-2 wingspan, Missi is a strong rim protector who also has the quickness to leave the paint and defend multiple positions in the pick-and-roll. Brook Lopez’s drop coverage in the pick-and-roll killed the Bucks against the Pacers in the playoffs, as it forced other Milwaukee defenders to collapse and help — leaving Indy’s shooters open. With Missi at center, he has the athleticism to stay in the play outside the arc, allowing the rest of the team to stay home on shooters.
The 19-year-old’s offensive game is still a work in progress, but he is an excellent rim-runner who offers excellent offensive rebounding skills — making him a great fit for the Milwaukee Bucks.
Liam Hanley is a versatile writer who covers a variety of sports at ClutchPoints and other sites. A Milwaukee native, Liam graduated from Macalester College with a BA in history. He has a special affinity for mid-major college basketball and lower-league English soccer.
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