Top Draft Prospect Fits for the Bucks - Round 2

I hope everyone enjoyed my Round 1 write up from a few days ago. I'm now going to dive into Round 2 of the draft board and point out some key players that could help the Bucks rebuild and fill their holes in the backcourt. But first, a few news tidbits for the Bucks.

- Lester Conner, who was Larry Drew's main assistant coach in Atlanta, will likely be named as Drew's lead assistant in Milwaukee.

- The Bucks, who pick 15th and 43rd in the upcoming NBA Draft, are looking seriously at guards and small forwards.

- They're especially looking closely at German import Dennis Schroeder and Shane Larkin from Miami.

- Regardless if the Bucks bring back Redick, Ellis and/or Jennings, they're still looking to add depth to their backcourt.

- Despite the recent report that suggests they prefer Ellis to Jennings, NBA officials would be pretty surprised if they let him walk without getting anything in return. Further, it's expected for him to be back in Milwaukee next season. 

- Herb Kohl is committed to keeping the Milwaukee Bucks from relocating by replacing the Bradley Center.

- Reports indicate PG/SG Jarrett Jack is unlikely to return the Golden State Warriors next season, who the Bucks could pursue in the offseason. (I have Jarrett Jack as part of the Bucks' offseason outlook post found here: http://wisportsblog.blogspot.com/2013/05/milwaukee-bucks-offseason-outlook.html)

Round 2

Tony Snell, SF, New Mexico, 6-7, Jr. - Now before we get too infatuated with Snell, let's all be honest with each other. With the way he's shooting up the draft boards in recent weeks, chances are he won't even be available when it's time for the Bucks to pick at number 43. But, before the hype ensues even more, let's take a look at Snell. He's a 42% shooter from the field and 39% from behind the arc. He averaged 12.5 points per game last year for the Lobos. Although his stats aren't overwhelming, he had a fantastic finish to his junior year, including making nearly 50% of his 3-point attempts over his last five games. Snell is a sharpshooter, and is a player the Bucks desire. If he were to drop to the Bucks in the second round, he's a great value pick and should be taken by Milwaukee.

Isaiah Canaan, PG, Murray State, 6-1, Sr. - Here's another prospect whose stock is rising by the day as the NBA Draft approaches. Canaan is another point guard the Bucks should really take a hard look at. He is also a very underrated prospect and could be a steal for the Bucks if they decide to draft a point guard in the 1st Round. Speaking of 1 Round, Isaiah has a chance to be drafted late in the 1st Round much like Snell. Canaan averaged just over 21 points per game for Murray State in his senior year. He had 3 rebounds and 4.5 assists to go along with that. In his most impressive game from last year, Canaan scored 35 points in a double overtime win vs. Morehead State. He shot 50% from the field (10-20), including 41% from behind the arc (5-12). He also shot 91% from the free throw line (10-11). Canaan also had an impressive game in an overtime loss to Belmont as he was one rebound shy of having a triple double (22-10-9). Cannon showed sparks last year and could really turn into someone special for anyone's backcourt. The Bucks need to take a long look here. He has received some NBA comparisons to Jameer Nelson, which is nothing to shake a stick at. He's more than likely NBA ready right out of college. He's strong. He's got a great jump shot. He's got the leadership.

Ryan Kelly, PF, Duke, 6-11, Sr. - Kelly is on of those risky picks heading into draft day because of an injury. Kelly missed 13 games during his senior year due to a foot injury and about two months ago had surgery on that same foot. Kelly is expected to return to 100 percent health and pursue an NBA career. He should be healthy by July, which is perfect timing as the NBA Draft is June 27th. Kelly's biggest game of the year and arguably the best of his Duke career came during the game where he returned to action after his 13 game absence. Ryan dropped 36 points on then #5 ranked Miami Hurricanes, including making 7 three-point shots out of 9 attempts. Kelly finished at 71% from the field that game. Kelly is an interesting draft prospect because he has the height to be a power forward but has a sweet little jumper to play at the small forward position. And, as I said about Tony Mitchell in Round 1, the Bucks could look in the Round 2 for their man to compliment Sanders and Henson.

Deshaun Thomas, SF, Ohio State, 6-7, Jr. - The kid knows how to shoot. The kid knows how to rebound. The kid knows how to dish the rock. If you watched any Big Ten basketball this year, I'm sure you've seen multiple highlights of Deshaun Thomas. Thomas scored double digits in every single game this year. He averaged 19.8 points per game, almost 6 rebounds a game and 1.3 assists. One thing that he corrected from the 2011/2012 season to the 2012/2013 season is his free throws. He went from shooting 74% in 2011 to 83% in 2012. In doing so, that really helped him improve his game. He's about the standard size for what an NBA team would be looking for in a small forward. Thomas could serve as a great 6th man off the bench to start of his NBA career and eventually move into the starting lineup. Regardless of where and when he plays, he's going to be a force to be reckoned with in the NBA.

Nate Wolters, G, South Dakota State, 6-4, Sr. - Look out for Nate Wolters, folks. Another guard that is going to turn heads in the NBA but is so underrated right now he's not getting the attention he deserves. Wolters can run both point and shooting guard. He averaged 22.3 points per game, 5.6 rebounds and 5.8 assists in his senior year. He shot an impressive 48.5% from the field last year. Wolters had one of the best performances of all college basketball players last year. In a game against a college that has the longest name in the history of the earth, Nate Wolters dropped 53 points on Indiana University/Purdue University Fort Wayne Mastodons. He shot an incredible 60% (17-28) from the field while going 9 for 14 from behind the arc and making 10 out of 11 free throws. Nate came close to a few triple doubles this year but missed them by a rebound or assist or two. Nate has some rising stock, but not enough to be a Round 1 draft pick. Furthermore, he will lkely be available when the Bucks have to make their second pick.

Second Round Sleeper Pick: Vander Blue, SG, Marquette, 6-4, Jr. - Because, why not? Right? Blue really developed into a star player this past season. He averaged nearly 15 points per game and made just over 45% of his shots. It came as a surprise to many that Vander announced he would skip his senior year at Marquette and enter the NBA draft. Whether you believe it or not, drafting Blue could be a wise choice by the Bucks. He's a home town kid. He's familiar with the home court of the Bradley Center. He has improvements to make in his game such as ball control, free throws, and selecting better 3-point shooting opportunities. He's raw talent, and can develop into a formidable player in the NBA.

You can watch full coverage of the NBA Draft on ESPN on Thursday, June 27th. Follow the Twitter feed (@WISportsBlog) for up to the minute details and rumors days before and the day of the Draft for the Milwaukee Bucks. Hope you enjoyed these two installments. With my luck, they will trade both picks away and not draft anyone and these two articles will be for naught.

Until next time, Beers, Brats, and Championships.

- Andrew Vrchota (@AndrewVrchota)

Follow us on Twitter for up to date news on Brewers, Packers, Badgers, Bucks and more. Live in game commentary, breaking news, previews, and post game discussion. @WISportsBlog @AndrewVrchota, @JoeP_Norton, @SMahon2Go, @Mik3_Schu, @jheldred, @olewr7, and @Stevie2Westside. Finally, find us on Instagram! (wisportsblog)

Milwaukee Bucks Offseason Outlook

Now that the Miami Heat properly disposed of the Bucks out of the playoffs, it's time to focus on the offseason for the borderline lottery team. I'll be taking a look at head coaching possibilities, who the Bucks might look at in the NBA draft, and who the Bucks could target in free agency.

The Bucks will be in search for a new head coach for starters as Jim Boylan was relieved of his duties shortly after the Bucks made a quick exit from the playoffs. Nothing against Boylan, but he isn't what the Bucks want as a head coach heading into the offseason. His name doesn't draw any excitement to potentially land a free agent. (Actually, nothing about the Bucks really excites free agents but I'm on a roll here so I'm going to just keep going.) Boylan is a good guy and he will find employment elsewhere.

Brian Shaw as an assistant under Phil Jackson's Lakers.

A name I've been wanting to be the Bucks head coach since Skiles was fired is Brian Shaw. He is an assistant head coach for the Indiana Pacers, who are currently in a series with the New York Knicks. Before his gig with Indiana, Shaw served as an assistant coach with the Lakers for seven years. Shaw is everything you want in an NBA coach. Great leader. He can keep a locker room together, unlike Skiles who had all sorts of disciplinary issues with former players on the Bucks. The only downside to Shaw is that the Bucks won't be the only team interested in him. The 76ers, Nets, and Cavaliers are also interested in the services of Brian.

Other names circulating are the Van Gundy brothers, Jerry Sloan, and Kelvin Sampson. I wouldn't mind either of the Van Gundy brothers. Great coaches, great name value, and great draw. From what I understand, Jerry Sloan wants to sign with a contending team. So that pretty much eliminates him from the Bucks search, if we truly want to be honest with each other.

Two names that have had interviews with the Bucks are Kelvin Sampson (current Rockets assistant) and Nate McMillan (former Trailblazers head coach). Kelvin Sampson is a product of Scott Skiles...PASS. Nate McMillan is the former coach of Portland, which I'm sure many reading this did not know that until just today...PASS. Seriously, can the Bucks prove me wrong and just do one thing right? Just once is all I ask for. 

Moving onto the draft, I fully expect another trade from Hammond like we've seen in years past. We will likely trade down, maybe acquire an additional pick or a player on the trading block at the time of the draft. The Bucks could potentially lose all three guards (Jennings, Ellis, Redick) this offseason so the guard position needs to be addressed. Ersan had a lack luster year for the Bucks and they could to look to move him one year after he signed his big contract. When the Bucks traded away Tobias Harris, it left a huge hole at the small forward position. Basically, besides power forward and center, the Bucks need to add depth. Here are a few names I would look at in the NBA Draft class.

Dario Šarić, SF/PF, Croatia (6'10", 19 years old, 223lbs.) (Projected Top 15/mid 1st round pick) - Great mid range jumper, streaky a bit from 3-point range. He has an unorthodox jump shot, which may lead to streaks of missing shots. He's an excellent rebounder. Great ball handler and passer. His defense needs to improve a bit, but that comes with experience. He has a seven foot wing span, so there's that. (Highlight Video)

Archie Goodwin, SG, Kentucky (6'5", 18 years old, 195lbs.) (Projected mid 1st round pick) - I got lazy and decided not to write five paragraphs on how much I like the potential in Archie Goodwin, so here's a 15 minute scouting video instead. (This pick would be Doron Lamb 2.0, literally. But, better upside.)



Shane Larkin, PG, Miami (5'11", 20 years old, 162lbs.) (Projected mid/late 1st round pick) - Yes, Barry Larkin's kid. I went there. As I mentioned before the Bucks could be without Brandon Jennings, Monta Ellis, and JJ Redick next season. The thing I like about Larkin the most is that in his early age he takes a lot of responsibility in his play. If Miami lost, he blamed himself and his play and not others. Much like his father, sign of a true leader. He's got a good head on his shoulders and shouldn't be a locker room issue. He has a lot of pride. Good passer, always finds the open man. Takes smart shots. His only disadvantage will be his height and size, as he barely reaches six feet tall and weighs a buck-sixty. (Highlight Video)

Tim Hardaway Jr., SG, Michigan (6'6", 21 years old, 185lbs.) (Projected late 1st/early 2nd round pick) - Hardaway Jr.  is going to be an elite player in the NBA, just like his father was for the Warriors and Heat. He is an NBA ready play and needs to develop very little to become a regular starter. A little tweaks in his offensive mechanics and being more consistent on defense would take him to the next level. He does a great job at creating separation for his jump shot, which is one of his strongest attributes. The Bucks need an elite shooting guard, and Hardaway Jr. is that guy. He has all the tools to become a great player in the NBA. (Highlight Video)

Deshaun Thomas, SF/PF, Ohio State (6'7", 21 years old, 221lbs.) (Projected mid 2nd round pick) - Deshaun Thomas was the leading scorer in arguably the toughest conference last season (B1G TEN). He's a 34.4% shooter from 3-point range and a 44% overall shooter from the field. For how good he is on offense, that's how many questions surround him on defense. The biggest question is can he keep up with the NBA pace and play effective defense? Whoever drafts him will have to find out. This highlight video below shows how great of an all around basketball player Thomas is on offense. (Highlight Video)

Finally, the free agent market is shaping up to be something the Bucks should take a look at. One name that sticks out for many reasons is small forward Josh Smith of the Atlanta Hawks. The biggest reason is that the Bucks nearly had him coming to town via a trade at the deadline in February. Second, the Bucks need help at the small forward position. Yes, Smith is listed as a power forward. I know that. However, with Henson and Ilyasova sharing the power forward spot, Smith would fit in fine at small forward. You could put Ilyasova at small forward too, but I think Ersan is a better rebounder on both sides of the ball than Josh Smith. Smith is more of a defensive rebounder while Ersan stays consistent on both sides of the ball. Smith is also a better shooter than Ersan, in my opinion. Smith can really play anywhere on the court except point and center. He's that versatile. Mike Dunleavy is a great backup, but not a starter by any means and is also a free agent. However, Dunleavy has said he would like to return to the Bucks. Here are a few other names the Bucks should look at.

Jarrett Jack, PG/SG - Jack was arguably one of the best 6th man off the bench for any team this year and was in the running to win the Sixth Man of the Year award that eventually went to J.R. Smith of the Knicks. His stats off the bench just about line up with Jennings' stats, who starts. Now, the Warriors have a much better offense than the Bucks, but it is worth noting. He could fill in as a JJ Redick type player who could run the point as well as play shooting guard. Want a preview of him? Watch the Spurs/Warriors series going on right now in the NBA playoffs.

O.J. Mayo, SG - Highly unlikely Mayo walks away from Dallas for Milwaukee, but the Bucks have some money to spend. As I stated above, the Bucks have longed for premier shooter. Mayo is a much better guard then Monta Ellis will ever be. Mayo is a career 43% FG shooter, 38% 3-point shooter, and an 81% free throw shooter compared to Ellis who is a career  45% FG shooter, 31% 3-point shooter, and a 77% free throw shooter. Mayo would make the previous Bucks front office blunders of trading Ray Allen and letting Michael Redd walk not feel so painful.

DeJuan Blair, PF - About the only news tidbit to come out from the Bucks front office so far this offseason other than the coaching search is that the Bucks will be looking for a player to compliment Larry Sanders and John Henson in the paint. DeJuan Blair is the name that sticks out the most for me in this NBA free agent class. Now, if the Bucks would rather have another center with Samuel Dalembert likely on his way out, we could turn our attention to a guy like Al Jefferson or Chris Kaman. (No, the Bucks aren't going after Andrew Bynum or Dwight Howard.)

Not worth picking a specific player, but it's worth mentioning. The Bucks have lacked a good veteran presence that is a big enough name to draw a crowd. That is not a knock on Drew Gooden at all. I respect Drew. He's a good guy. What I'm saying is is that a name like Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady, etc wouldn't be a bad idea for the Bucks to pursue as well. They need a little spark in the crowd, and a name like that would do justice.

The Bucks are going to be a team to follow this offseason as there is going to be a strong movement of out with the old and in with the new. A new coach, likely half of the starters will be new, and the entire bench could be new. They have a lot of money to spend, and I expect the Bucks to make a splash or two this offseason.

I want to finish this with a report from Ken Berger of CBS Sports. This news came out this morning, about 3 hours ago from the time I'm typing this. This article furthers my belief that the Bucks are really going to blow things up and start fresh almost everywhere. Here it is, word for word:

"The Milwaukee Bucks' search for a head coach has emphasized strong-willed candidates who would be able to control the locker room. Now we know why.

Monta Ellis and Larry Sanders nearly came to blows in the locker room after Game 3 of Milwaukee's first-round sweep at the hands of defending champion Miami, four people with knowledge of the confrontation told CBSSports.com.

Though the players had to be separated, the dust-up didn't get serious enough to trigger disciplinary action for either player. One source described the confrontation as “just words between teammates in the locker room.” But the incident offered a glimpse into some troubling team dynamics as the Bucks navigate a critical offseason for the franchise.

After the Bucks lost 104-91 to the Heat in Milwaukee on April 25, Sanders vented in the locker room and said in a fiery speech, “We need to start playing together as a team and stop worrying about next year,” according to one of the people briefed on the confrontation. “We need to stop being selfish and start worrying about right now.”

Ellis “took umbrage,” according to another person with knowledge of the situation. Correctly assuming that Sanders' comments were directed primarily at him and backcourt mate Brandon Jennings, who both are prospective free agents, Ellis approached Sanders and squared off with him, sources said. A teammate got between the two players and separated them before the conflict became physical.

Ellis was 2-for-9 with seven points and six assists in the game and became livid that Sanders implied he was playing selfishly with free agency looming this summer. Ellis can opt out of his $11 million contract for next season, and Jennings -- a restricted free agent -- has made no secret of his desire to explore an exit strategy from Milwaukee this summer.

The Bucks were swept by the Heat after Jennings had predicted on Twitter they would win in six games. The team fired interim coach Jim Boylan, who replaced Scott Skiles in January after Skiles and the Bucks agreed to part ways.

Bucks GM John Hammond, who got a three-year extension in January, has interviewed former Trail Blazers coach Nate McMillan and Rockets assistant Kelvin Sampson for the head coaching job. It is believed Hammond also will reach out to former Magic coach Stan Van Gundy and Lakers assistant Steve Clifford, a Van Gundy disciple who worked for Stan in Orlando and brother Jeff in Houston, sources said.

Hammond declined to comment on the April 25 confrontation between Sanders and Ellis, calling it “an internal team matter.”

The Bucks acquired Ellis from Golden State in March 2012 in a deal that sent Andrew Bogut to the Warriors. Oddly, a member of the proposed ownership group trying to keep the Kings in Sacramento has done some background checking on Ellis as a possibility for the Kings if the team decides to part ways with restricted free agent Tyreke Evans this summer, a league source involved in the discussions said. Ellis is weighing his options and hasn't decided yet whether he will opt out of his $11 million deal.

Sanders, 24, had a breakout year in his first season as a regular starter and was a top contender for defensive player of the year and most-improved player honors."

Until next time, Beers, Brats, and Championships.

- Andrew Vrchota (@AndrewVrchota)

Follow us on Twitter for up to date news on Brewers, Packers, Badgers, Bucks and more. Live in game commentary, breaking news, previews, and post game discussion. @WISportsBlog @AndrewVrchota, @JoeP_Norton, @SMahon2Go, @Mik3_Schu, @jheldred, @olewr7, and @Stevie2Westside. Finally, find us on Instagram! (wisportsblog)