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Wednesday, June 6, 2012

NBA Draft 2012: Milwaukee Bucks Calling All Bigger Small Men - Bleacher Report

The Milwaukee Bucks will be looking for size in the upcoming draft. This much we know.

However, the Bucks first pre-draft workout saw a plethora of sizable guards.

No one is going to argue that Milwaukee needs some help in the middle, which will probably be addressed with Milwaukee's first pick at No. 12.

What fans, players, and even management doesn't know, is what they're going to do with their second round pick.

Assistant GM Jeff Weltman was quoted in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "At 42, you don't know what you're going to be pickingâ€"you pick the best player."

It's evident that the "best player" may just be a bigger guard.

On the first day of workouts the Bucks evaluated: 6-7 Kris Joseph from Syracuse, 6-6 Chris Johnson of Dayton, 6-5 Toney Wroten of Washington, 6-4 Jared Cunningham of Oregon State, and two in state products Jordan Taylor from Wisconsin and Darius Johnson-Odom from Marquette.

Milwaukee is excited about having an explosive backcourt this season with the likes of Brandon Jennings and Monta Ellis, but the two only stand 6-1 and 6-3 respectively.

The Bucks also have 6-3 Beno Udrih at he back-up point guard spot, after he signed his player option a few weeks ago.

What position should the Bucks look to upgrade with their second round pick?

What position should the Bucks look to upgrade with their second round pick?

  • Guard

  • Forward

  • Center

All of the focus on mock drafts this year have been concentrated on Milwaukee securing a big man at the No.12 spot, which in fact is their biggest need. The look at bigger guards though is a very savvy investment.

Both Ellis and Jennings are premier scorers, but both are on the wiry side and are a big liability if larger guards decide to post-up. Milwaukee needs a "tween" guard that can defend the PG-SF positions when called upon.

I wouldn't be surprised if the Bucks do in fact draft one of the aforementioned. I could see Joseph or Johnson being their selection in particular.

Joseph was hampered by a groin injury at the workout, but was able to partake in some of the drills. The Syracuse guard demonstrated an ability to defend, as well as provide some consistent shooting in his time in the Big East.

Johnson averaged 12.4 points and 6.4 rebound a game last season at Dayton, and shot 40 percent from the arc.

Both Johnson and Joseph supply the Bucks with a very capable two man, with the ability to defend the bigger guards in the NBA.

If the Bucks decide to go with one of the smaller selections from the state of Wisconsin in Taylor or Johnson-Odom, it would be the second straight year the Bucks took a player from within the state. The Bucks selected Jon Leuer from Wisconsin University in the second round during the 2011 draft.

135241321_crop_340x234Joe Robbins/Getty Images

Milwaukee is looking to increase size this year, and it seems to be holding true across all positions.

So.. many.. "that's what she said jokes" must.. refrain..

Anyways, don't look for Milwaukee to spend it's first round selection on anything but a big guy barring some unprecedented move in free agency. It will be interesting to see what they do with their second round selection, and if early indications are anything to go on, it looks like they want to upgrade the guard spot on the back up unit.

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