Tonight is the night when the NBA shuffles the deck of the league's bottom teams, and a determination is made as to who gets the chance to draft the top prospects in June's player selection.
The Bucks entered tonight's NBA Draft Lottery with the 10th worst record, meaning the 10th best chance to snag the first pick.
That is where they will stay, unless they trade the pick between now and late June.
Who could be available at No. 10? Numerous "big boards" - listings of the best draft prospects - have these options.
Marquese Chriss (forward, 6'9", 225 lbs., University of Washington)
- Sports Illustrated lists him as "highlight–reel bouncy, active on the offensive glass and already a comfortable face–up shooter, all factors helping mitigate the fact he’s slightly undersized."
Denzel Valentine (guard, 6'6", 220 lbs., Michigan State)
- According to SI, "The physical aspect of Valentine’s game has long been in question, but there are few doubts about his makeup and savvy. As a versatile three–and–D player in the right system, he could excel."
Timothe Luwawu (forward, 6'7", 205 lbs., Mega Leks of Serbia)
- As SI puts it, "Two–way wings are always a valuable commodity, and Luwawu’s one of the best in a thin draft. Physically the appeal is clear, with a wingspan over seven feet, fluidity and bounce." Perhaps a mini-Giannis?
Domantas Sabonis (forward, 6'11", 240 lbs., Gonzaga)
- Per Sports Illustrated, "Matching up with a taller opponent, Sabonis used his physicality and instincts to compensate for his lack of length, a good indicator for the next level..obviously there’s the NBA pedigree, too." (His dad Arvydas Sabonis, who played with the Portland Trail Blazers.)
That doesn't mean the Bucks would take any of these guys. It's doubtful, but even Marquette's Henry Ellenson might still be available at the No. 10 pick.
Stay tuned.
