The Milwaukee Bucks were swept by the Miami Heat in the first round of this year's NBA Playoffs, and things are likely only going to get trickier over the next few weeks. The team was able to replace interim head coach Jim Boylan with Larry Drew, but quite a few questions still remain heading into next season.
NBA Draft 2013: Milwaukee Bucks look for backcourt help
The Bucks’ top three guards are free agents, so they will likely look for backcourt help with their two draft picks.
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The process to reconstruct the team begins with two picks in the 2013 NBA Draft.
Draft picks
The Bucks have made quite a few deals over the past few years, but none have messed with this season’s draft picks. The Bucks will use their own picks to select No. 15 in the first round and No. 43 in the second round. They will have no other picks, barring a draft-night trade.
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Point Guard - Brandon Jennings (restricted free agent), Ish Smith
Shooting Guard - Monta Ellis (early termination option), J.J. Redick (free agent)
Small Forward - Luc Mbah a Moute, Mike Dunleavy Jr. (free agent), Marquis Daniels (free agent)
Power Forward - Ersan Ilyasova, John Henson, Ekpe Udoh, Drew Gooden
Center - Larry Sanders, Gustavo Ayon (team option), Samuel Dalembert, Joel Przybilla (free agent)
The Bucks are in an interesting spot, as Jennings, Ellis and Redick, their three best backcourt options, could all conceivably be gone without the Bucks having much of a say in things. That, coupled with a frontcourt that’s pretty set (but not overwhelmingly great), could lead to some interesting decisions.
Biggest need(s)
The Bucks must figure out what’s going to happen with their backcourt. Once that’s settled, the team will be able to figure things out a bit further. It’s probably OK to say the Bucks will try to find something in the backcourt first to replenish their ranks. After that, they may try to get a bit bigger in the frontcourt.
Potential targets
UCLA’s Shabazz Muhammad (scouting report) could be a wise pick here. The team might opt to fill bigger needs, but Muhammad would be a talent upgrade on the wing and possibly a steal considering how high he was projected to go earlier in his career.
If the Bucks indeed take a guard, Miami’s Shane Larkin (scouting report), Germany’s Dennis Schroeder (scouting report) and California’s Allen Crabbe (scouting report) are options.
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