Milwaukee Bucks 2015 - 2016

[MrTPlush]

The problem with Maker is whether he is 19 or 23 he isn't even dominating HS talent. I'd expect a 5 year HS player like him to absolutely dominate and he doesn't.He is an NBA draft prospect that can't even dominate a bunch of kids who have no NBA future. Even worse most scouts don't even think his ceiling is that high best case scenario.

 

Honestly the Bucks just selected a guy who is going to take 3 years minimum to make an impact and that impact probably isn't more than a rotational guy. It's like they saw a sliver of hope he becomes something great and are hoping to catch lightning in a bottle.

[fondybrewfan]

I am fine with the pick; because again I didn't see an alternative at 10 that really would have been a good fit for the Bucks. Given his athletic ability and work ethic I think he was worth the gamble. I don't know why he didn't improve all that much while in Canada. Maybe it was coaching, maybe it was playing down to competition. Who knows.

[FVBrewerFan]

Scouts are wrong a lot, so that part doesn't bother me. It does bother me he wasn't more dominant in HS. But I'm fine if he develops into a rotational rim protector type of player. Only problem with that is you're going to pay him too much money as a lottery pick to get no production for a couple years (at least) and then get a part time player.

 

I think I've just kept typing until I did a 180 and now see I don't like the pick very much. ; )

[molitor fan]

A couple of things since I am the foremost Bucks expert on this site:

 

1. It is looking very likely that Maker is between 21-24 and graduated from a school in Australia in 2010, then did the whole high school thing again like he was Johnny Depp in 21 Jump Street.

 

2. Maker looks like a completely different human than what he looked like in 2010....he looked incredibly young in those photos and basically emaciated...there is a photo floating around of him from a Utah Jazz workout where he looks incredibly impressive

 

3. He did dominate competition in HS, not sure what plush is talking about, but then again, he should have.

 

4. If you look at his videos on you tube, he does what few other 7 footers can do regardless of their age....this guy could be a monster

 

5. He is very well spoken and seems genuinely nice....however he might be getting steered by a handler that is not so nice...stories have been out there that his current agent/handler has a rep for being unscrupulous and I hope Thon surrounds himself with good people

 

6. After all these statements that certainly appear to be false, I decree Thon Draper to be the best nickname for him

[MrTPlush]

He didn't dominate HS. Maybe he does before you consider he is 7 feet tall and possibly half a decade older than some of his competition. He should have been the Stephen Curry of big men. Scouts say he just didn't stand out when he should have.

 

I'd be pretty concerned having a guy who can't standout against high school talent. How would he fair against college players? Can you imagine him against NBA players?

[fondybrewfan]

Well Skal L looked like an end of the bench guy in college and he still got drafted in the first round. NBA drafts on potential vs. production more than perhaps any other sport. Hopefully the kid really does have the work ethic to get better and contributes some day.

 

So the kid graduated from HS in Australia, then went the a HS in the United States, than attended a Prep School in Canada. Shouldn't either of those schools caught what was going on here through transcript requests? They can't just take the kids word for it. The Australian school had to have had transcripts showing Thon graduated from HS.

[rwa12]

I could care less what he did in high school. I really don't care if he went to HS for 10 years. If he can play, he can play. Whether he is 19 or 24. Let's not kid ourselves by thinking he was going to get 5 years to develop. These guys get one, maybe two chances. They see something they like. I like the work ethic, he sounds like a pretty smart kid when he speaks about basketball, and he's got the wingspan of a 747. This wasn't a must hit for the Bucks. They could afford the flyer. There was squat else available.

 

Any way you look at it, he's still about 17 years younger than our 2nd Round pick.

[tmwiese55]

If he's 24 his chances are much lower because frankly he "can't play" right now. If he was 19 and had only been playing ball for 5 years as initially thought, his complete rawness is no big deal as his body should fill out and improvement curve is through the roof since he'd barely played (think Giannis). Now, if he's 23-24 and been playing ball for up to 10 years and is still so skinny. Chances of filling out drastically more is unlikely and chances of a huge improvement is also much lower. If he was coming in old and ready to play immediately (think Tim Duncan) I would agree, no big deal. but when he's the rawest guy in the draft and also the oldest, your chances go way lower.

 

If they wanted the high upside boom/bust type I would have just gone with Skal, at least we know how old he is and generally similar games/potential. At the time I was leaning towards drafting shooting and had landed on Baldwin as one of the few Gs who can actually already hit a 3 ball. Then gambled on high upside bigs like Thon/Skal or whoever dropped to us with our 2nd rounders. In hindsight it could have worked with Skal and the MSU guy dropping, could have traded up somehow to snag them late first.

[superfly]

In hindsight it could have worked with Skal and the MSU guy dropping, could have traded up somehow to snag them late first.

 

I was screaming at the TV at the end before Deyonta in particular got picked...surprised you didn't hear me.

[fondybrewfan]

The guy is still relatively new to basketball so to say he can't improve if he is 24 isn't really accurate. Its like he has been in AAU since he was 7.

[rwa12]

Never probably going to get a conspiracy free answer. He showed his passport, good enough for me. Pre-dates the "mentor" that allegedly fudged his age.

[patrickgpe]

Never probably going to get a conspiracy free answer. He showed his passport, good enough for me. Pre-dates the "mentor" that allegedly fudged his age.

really the best evidence is a yearbook, which could very well be photo shopped, to the best of my knowledge the original has yet to been shown. I doubt we will ever get the answer if he is 23, but i would have to believe that the bucks did everything they could to verify his age before taking him #10. To think someone on the internet would have been resources than the GM of the bucks doesn't make sense.

[Baldkin]

Never probably going to get a conspiracy free answer. He showed his passport, good enough for me. Pre-dates the "mentor" that allegedly fudged his age.

really the best evidence is a yearbook, which could very well be photo shopped, to the best of my knowledge the original has yet to been shown. I doubt we will ever get the answer if he is 23, but i would have to believe that the bucks did everything they could to verify his age before taking him #10. To think someone on the internet would have been resources than the GM of the bucks doesn't make sense.

 

It's more the billionaire owners of the bucks vs. Everyone on the internet. I'd say that's close to a toss up.... even though I think he's 19 (and I'm still disappointed by the pick).

[tmwiese55]

The guy is still relatively new to basketball so to say he can't improve if he is 24 isn't really accurate. Its like he has been in AAU since he was 7.

 

Of course he could still improve. But the narrative was he was 19 and only playing ball for 5 years. If it turns out he was 23-24 and playing for closer to 10, the expected improvement goes way way down. not saying improvement isn't likely, just that much less would be expected in the second scenario here.

 

I'm at the point where i'd set his over/under at 21. I'm at least confident at this point a grand conspiracy didn't happen, which is enough for me not be upset at all and will just root for him and hope for the best. Just likely there was an error when he first left Africa in his birthdate so he's legally a year or two less than he biologically is and they really had no choice but to go with the narrative that he's that age. I mean, how can they prove he's older?

[FVBrewerFan]

From the "in case you missed it, or care" department, Inglis and O'Bryant waived.

[fondybrewfan]

FA starts today; looking forward to the Bucks getting some sloppy seconds and overpaying for them. Of course everyone is going to get paid a ridiculous amount this year due the cap skyrocketing.

 

Hey at least it looks like we aren't getting Noah.

[patrickgpe]

every single player linked to the bucks doesn't excite me at all. (delly, bazemore). I don't think (thankfully) that Howard is feasible. Honestly if the bucks brought in 1 or 2 mid priced vets (like they did with zaza, dudley, and bayless Id be happy)

[patrickgpe]

Jeremy Lin just got 12 million / yr from the Nets and Timofey Mozgov just got 16 million / yr from the Lakers. the contracts are completely insane so far. This scares me on what the bucks will do once they get active.

[tmwiese55]

Yea I'd almost prefer they just sit this year out other than roster filler type moves like Dudley, Bayless type things. If it means one more year of not making the playoffs, so be it. I'd rather not have a burden contract in a few years when they'll actually be trying to contend. Really with Giannis likely huge improvement along with Mid and Jabari they should be able to make the playoffs with whatever filler they put around them. Real contention is 3-4 years out when Lebron is old, save your money and cap space until then.

[jjgott]

Saw a Bill Simmons tweet that the Bucks were making a "stealth" move for Wade. No thanks.

[superfly]

Saw a Bill Simmons tweet that the Bucks were making a "stealth" move for Wade. No thanks.

 

Wojnarowski says a 4/90 deal is "close."

[nate82]

Wade on a 2-year deal wouldn't be all that bad if the Bucks can trade MCW.

[CheezWizHed]

Would Wade make a decent mentor for MCW? Wade's knock coming out of college was ball-handing and 3pt shooting.

 

Wade would be fun, just to have him back in Milwaukee again. But on a short term deal, not a max-5 year deal.

[Baldkin]

Would Wade make a decent mentor for MCW? Wade's knock coming out of college was ball-handing and 3pt shooting.

 

Wade would be fun, just to have him back in Milwaukee again. But on a short term deal, not a max-5 year deal.

 

Well, Wade still can't shoot and there's no spot for him to play in Milwaukee with Middleton, Giannis and Jabari all wanting 30+ minutes.

 

It would be the most Bucks thing ever to bring him in, start him and wonder why Giannis' growth stagnates by bringing in a ball dominant guy and you have no offensive spacing by adding another guy who can't shoot.

[patrickgpe]

Wow, OJ Mayo dismissed and disqualified from the NBA for violating the NBA anti-drug program.