Bucks Draft Recap

The Yi-xperiment is finally over. In his short time in Milwaukee, Yi proved to be older than we were led to believe he was, far less athletic than he was billed to be, and not the perimeter shooter we thought we were getting. Long story short, he looked stiff. And now he's gone. So is Bobby Simmons. When the Bucks signed Simmons in the 2005 offseason, we were lead to believe we were getting an athletic, scoring wing-man who could defend with the best of them. Instead we got a stiff who couldn't stay healthy or defend anyone anymore.

In Richard Jefferson, the Bucks get the athletic, scoring wing-man who can defend. Jefferson put up career numbers last year and was named to the All-Star team. He gives Milwaukee a legit second scoring option to Michael Redd, as both are capable of putting up 22+ a night. Jefferson's gritty play and attention to defense had to be a major selling point to new head coach Scott Skiles.

That wasn't the only addition the Bucks made though, adding Joe Alexander and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute.

Picking in the eight slot for the first time since 2003 (I was fortunate enough to be on hand at the Cousins Center covering the draft this odd night), when the Bucks took T.J. Ford and rumors of Michael Jordan buying the team were swirling - leading a certain radio play-by-play man to vehemently state to us off the air that he was certain the Bucks would be moved to Louisville...coughteddaviscough - the Bucks passed on point guard Jerryd Bayless and stuck with the guy they wanted all along.

After picking up Jefferson earlier in the afternoon, I feared they would go with Anthony Randolph here, and hoped they'd take Bayless. Instead, Hammond stuck with his guns and selected West Virginia's Alexander.

Much like when they added Andrew Bogut in 2005, the Bucks once again get a player who - brace yourself - really wants to be in Milwaukee.

Don't get me wrong, I really like Alexander, but after dealing for Richard Jefferson and selecting Mbah a Moute in the second round, it just doesn't make a lot of sense. I know the Bucks are saying they plan on playing Alexander at the four, but he looks like a three to me. Look at how well playing out of position suited Yi last year. I would have gone with Bayless and worked on shipping Mo Williams out of town, but alas.

I think Alexander will blossom into a very good player. He has a terrific mid-range game and is tough enough to play down in the post on occasion, though he'll need to add some bulk to his frame before playing the four in the NBA.

Mbah a Moute is a terrific selection for this team, a team that lacks toughness and players willing to play defense. I've already seen the Bruce Bowen comparison thrown out a lot, and it would appear to be pretty accurate, although Mbah a Moute isn't as skilled offensively (and I say that realizing Bowen blows on offense). Mbah a Moute will develop into a great bench player and his defense should let him get playing time in the late minutes of games. Overall, great selection and a pretty good draft night for the Bucks. They lose two turds who didn't help this team at all and add more scoring, two guys that play defense and a ton of athleticism.