Fansided

Predicting the final records of each NBA team

By Brad Rowland

CPer Forbes, LeBron James beats out Tiger Woods for most valuable sports brand. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
CPer Forbes, LeBron James beats out Tiger Woods for most valuable sports brand. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
18 of 31
Next
Milwaukee Bucks guard Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) dunks the ball against the Golden State Warriors during the third quarter at Oracle Arena. The Golden State Warriors defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 115-110. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Milwaukee Bucks guard Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) dunks the ball against the Golden State Warriors during the third quarter at Oracle Arena. The Golden State Warriors defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 115-110. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /

Milwaukee Bucks

The Milwaukee Bucks have talent. No, really, they do.

It is hard to fathom that the Bucks could have a semblance of a real roster after a season in which the team posted a league-worst record of 15-67, but if healthy, Milwaukee could be borderline competitive this season. In the front-court, there are certainly question marks surrounding Larry Sanders, who fell off a cliff in 2013-2014 after submitting a tremendous season (9.8 points, 9.5 rebounds, 2.8 blocks per game) in 2012-2013, but aside from that, this is a deep group.

The Bucks have an established veteran in Zaza Pachulia behind Sanders at the center spot, and at power forward, there is a minor logjam with the rangy John Henson and the highly overpaid Ersan Ilyasova. Each brings positives to the table, with defense and rebounding from Henson and scoring ability from Ilyasova, but the bigger issue may be finding minutes for everyone as a result of one crucial fact.

Jabari Parker is probably a power forward.

Jason Kidd and the organization appear to be willing or even eager to deploy the number two overall pick at the power forward spot, but while it may be more ideal for Parker at this point, it leaves the roster in some flux. If we were to pencil Parker into the four spot, Milwaukee is left with only Khris Middleton and Jared Dudley as NBA-ready small forwards, and Giannis Antetokounmpo remains an enigma at all times, especially with regard to position.

The backcourt is also quite interesting, with Brandon Knight as the only given among a group that includes O.J. Mayo (still in the league!), Jerryd Bayless and two intriguing point guard prospects in Nate Wolters and Kendall Marshall. Knight has quietly been solid amid the turmoil in Milwaukee, but unless he makes a leap, the Bucks are going to need help in the backcourt.

Because the Bucks have thirteen players who could be construed as real, live NBA players, there is nowhere to go but up. Jason Kidd did a nice job of adjusting on the fly in Brooklyn last season, but he has a very interesting challenge with this group. I’m going to be higher on them than most, simply because I highly value talent, but it also wouldn’t be a surprise if they finished 14th in the East ahead of only Philadelphia.

Projected Record: 28-54, 11th in East

Home/Atlanta Hawks