Bobby Portis and Bryn Forbes are expected to decline their player options and become unrestricted free agents while P.J. Tucker, Thanasis Antetokounmpo, and Jeff Teague will also enter free agency. The Bucks will have many critical decisions to make this offseason, and seems highly unlikely that they’ll be able to return everyone to run it back given the team’s financial situation.
It all starts with the draft though, where Milwaukee holds the No. 31 pick.
The Milwaukee Bucks swapped this year’s first-round pick with Houston’s second round pick as part of the deal that sent P.J. Tucker to the Bucks before the trade deadline, which clearly turned out to be a successful trade. As a result, the Rockets claimed the No. 24 pick while Milwaukee received No. 31.
For now, it will be the only selection that the defending world champions will hold in this draft and have no plans of trading it away as an asset. The Bucks should be prioritizing a guard or wing with this pick, but could be open to drafting another center, especially if they can’t afford to bring back Portis.
There will be plenty of options for Milwaukee, some that are unrealistic like Jared Butler, Corey Kispert, Tre Murphy III, Chris Duarte, and more who most likely won’t fall to them, but let’s examine five prospects that would be a realistic fit for the Bucks with the first pick in the second round of the 2021 NBA Draft.
turned out to be a successful trade</a>. As a result, the Rockets claimed the No. 24 pick while Milwaukee received No. 31.</p>
<p>For now, it will be the only selection that the defending world champions will hold in this draft and have no plans of trading it away as an asset. The Bucks should be prioritizing a guard or wing with this pick, but could be open to drafting another center, especially if they can’t afford to bring back Portis.</p>
<p>There will be plenty of options for Milwaukee, some that are unrealistic like Jared Butler, Corey Kispert, Tre Murphy III, Chris Duarte, and more who<a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/07/26/milwaukee-bucks-nba-draft/"https://hoopshabit.com/2021/07/26/indiana-pacers-5-options-nba-draft/"> most likely won’t fall to them</a>, but let’s examine five prospects that would be a realistic fit for the Bucks with the first pick in the second round of the 2021 NBA Draft.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/07/26/milwaukee-bucks-nba-draft/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Quentin Grimes </a>
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<img class="wp-image-433154 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/07/26/milwaukee-bucks-nba-draft/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1298016537.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1298016537.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1298016537-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Milwaukee Bucks, NBA draft Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images</p>
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<h2>Milwaukee Bucks: 5 realistic targets with the No. 31 pick – Quentin Grimes</h2>
<p>One target for the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2021 NBA Draft could be junior Quentin Grimes out of the University of Houston. Grimes, a 6’5″ sharp-shooting wing, averaged 17.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.4 steals per game on 40.6 percent field goals and 40.3 percent from 3-point land for the Cougars last season in which they made a triumphant Final Four run.</p>
<p>Growing up, Grimes was a very hyped prospect out of high school, was an All-American, and committed to the Kansas Jayhawks under Bill Self before transferring to Houston, where his development took shape under coach Kelvin Sampson for two years. Leading the Cougars with a more advanced role and increased maturity was a productive sight that has ultimately uplifted his draft stock.</p>
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<p>Grimes also had an impressive showing at the NBA Combine and as a result, he’s projected to be drafted anywhere from the mid-20’s to early 30’s. He’s certainly capable of earning an immediate rotational role, and could be an ideal fit to complement the core and schemes of the Bucks.</p>
<p>Primarily, the 21-year-old is an excellent 3-point shooter, whether it’s off the dribble or catch and shoot, and stands out as an intelligent defender that can guard other wings or guards at a high level. He had a true shooting percentage of 55.8 percent and was one of only three D1 players to make 100 or more 3-pointers last season. In addition, he’s got high-end instincts, awareness, athleticism, and quick hands and feet that propel his impact on the defensive end.</p>
<p>A notable weakness of Grimes has been his ball handling ability, especially with his off-hand as many defenders will strategically force him left, and needs improvement with the pick and roll. However, with his efficient 3-point shooting, reliability as a perimeter defender, high character, and winning mentality, Quentin Grimes could be a strong fit within Milwaukee’s system and a realistic target for them with the 31st pick.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/07/26/milwaukee-bucks-nba-draft/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Miles McBride </a>
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<img class="wp-image-433155 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/07/26/milwaukee-bucks-nba-draft/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1308036551.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1308036551.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1308036551-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Milwaukee Bucks, NBA draft Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/2021 Getty Images</p>
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<h2>Milwaukee Bucks: 5 realistic targets with the No. 31 pick – Miles McBride</h2>
<p>Secondly, the Milwaukee Bucks could be keen on sophomore Miles “Deuce” McBride out of West Virginia. The 6’2″ point guard could be a sleeper in this draft and it seems that there’s a likelihood that the 20-year-old could fall to the Bucks based on recent mock drafts.</p>
<p>Last season for the Mountaineers, McBride averaged 15.9 points, 4.8 assists, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.9 steals per game on 43.1 percent shooting from the floor and 41.4 percent from beyond the arc. He’s an intense competitor with a knack for scoring in quick bursts or setting up his teammates while defending with pride and relentlessness.</p>
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<p>Despite being a smaller combo guard, McBride can score from all levels, has proved to be an efficient 3-point shooter, possess great vision and decisiveness as a playmaker, consistently affects opponents with his aggressiveness and quickness, and understands what it takes to win. He’d be a welcoming contributor to the Bucks as an explosive backup point guard that could also play the two-guard.</p>
<p>If Miles McBride is available for Milwaukee at the beginning of the second round, it would be no surprise to see the Bucks select him and add his tough-minded presence to this championship team.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/07/26/milwaukee-bucks-nba-draft/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Josh Christopher </a>
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<span class="call_to_action">Next:</span> NBA Draft: Regrading all 30 teams 2019 NBA Draft </a> </div>
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