Seven players who could be available for the Bucks at No. 23 in the NBA draft
The Milwaukee Bucks will begin the 2024 NBA draft with the No. 23 pick in the first round Wednesday night, thanks to a swap with New Orleans. The Bucks originally had the No. 21 selection, but the Pelicans had the right to “swap” places with the Bucks as a condition of the 2020 Jrue Holiday trade.
Milwaukee can trade that pick during the draft, but should they remain at that spot there are dozens of players who will likely be available for general manager Jon Horst to select.
Here is a look at seven of those players (in alphabetical order), who mock drafts have projected being selected between Nos. 20-26:
Pacôme Dadiet
Previous team/university: Ratiopharm Ulm (Germany)Age on opening day: 19Height: 6-8Need to know:The Frenchman has been a professional since 2021 and represents a big swing on potential. He averaged 6.9 points per game in roughly 15 minutes of action for Ulm in league play, shooting 38% from behind the three-point line.
Zach Edey
Previous team/university: Purdue UniversityAge on opening day: 22Height: 7-3 (without shoes)Need to know: The two-time Naismith men’s college player of the year was the biggest player measured at the NBA draft combine not just in height without shoes, but in standing reach (9-7) and wingspan (7-10). In his last two seasons he averaged 23.8 points on 61.6% shooting while pulling down 12.5 rebounds and blocking 2.1 shots per game.
Kyshawn George
Previous team/university: University of MiamiAge on opening day: 20Height: 6-7 (without shoes)Need to know: The Swede initially played for the professional organization Élan Sportif Chalonnais’ junior programs in France from 2019-22 before coming stateside to play one year for the Hurricanes, where he averaged 7.6 points and 3.0 rebounds in 30 games. The raw stats are unimpressive, but his height and 40.8% mark from behind the three-point line make him intriguing to a team in need of potential “three-and-D” type players. George has a 6-10 wingspan, but his standing vertical (27 inches), maximum vertical (32 inches) and other combine agility numbers did not pop off the page in comparison to other prospects.
Bobi Klintman
Previous team/university: Cairns (Austraila)Age on opening day: 21Height: 6-8 (without shoes)Need to know: The Swede played one year of high school basketball in the United States and one season at Wake Forest (2022-23) before turning pro and playing in Australia last season. He averaged 9.7 points on 44% shooting for Cairns. He showed promise from distance, making 35% of his three-point attempts.
Yves Missi
Previous team/university: Baylor UniversityAge on opening day: 20Height: 6-10 (without shoes)Need to know: Missi recorded a 31-inch standing vertical and a 38.5-inch maximum vertical at the combine. He turned pro after one college season in which he averaged 10.7 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.5 blocks. Shot 61% from the field and did not attempt a three-pointer. Was a Big 12 all-defensive team member.
Tyler Smith
Previous team/university: G League IgniteAge on opening day: 19Height: 6-9 (without shoes)Need to know:Originally turned professional by signing with Overtime Elite in 2021 before moving to the Ignite for last season. In 27 games he averaged 13.4 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.0 block for the Ignite. Shot 36% from behind the three-point line. Measured a 7-1 wingspan at the combine.
Kel’el Ware
Previous team/university: Indiana UniversityAge on opening day: 20Height: 6-11 (without shoes)Need to know: Had a 32-inch standing vertical and had the second-quickest shuttle run among centers (2.91 seconds). Ware began his college career at Oregon (6.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.3 blocks) before playing at Indiana last season (15.9 points, 9.9 rebounds, 1.9 blocks) and earning a Big Ten all-defensive honor.
Will Tyler Kolek be available for the Bucks?
The Marquette University point guard had a workout scheduled with the Bucks and is seen as a player who could be available at that point in the draft. But HoopsHype, part of the USA TODAY NETWORK, reported that Phoenix is thinking of taking Kolek at No. 22.
More: Marquette's Tyler Kolek hopes to show at NBA draft combine that he is a first-round pick
Bucks draft history at No. 23
Milwaukee has owned the 23rd pick in the draft on two previous occasions, and in 1976 they selected Alex English out of South Carolina. After two non-descript seasons with the Bucks, English signed with the Indiana Pacers in 1978 and was traded to Denver in 1980. English’s career took off from there, as he made eight all-star teams while with the Nuggets and averaged 25.9 points per game in his 11 seasons with them.
The Bucks picked Lee Mayberry out of Arkansas in 1992 at No. 23. He played in 328 games in four seasons with the Bucks from 1992-96 and shot 38.8% from behind the three-point line.
Best No. 23 pick in the NBA draft
As a Hall of Famer and a one-time league scoring champion, English definitely has a strong stake as the best No. 23 pick in NBA history.
But Wayne Embry was also picked at that spot in 1958 by the Atlanta Hawks. He not only made five all-star teams, but he was part of the title-winning Boston Celtics in 1968. He then was a member of the original Milwaukee Bucks in 1968-69 before moving into the front office. He later became the first Black general manager in league history when he assumed that role in 1972. Embry would go on to win two executive of the year awards.
Other notable No. 23 selections include World B. Free (Philadelphia), Bobby Jackson (Sacramento), Tayshaun Prince (Detroit) and OG Anunoby (Toronto).
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Seven players who could be available for Bucks at No. 23 in NBA draft
