The Whiteboard: Jon Horst is doing good work for the Milwaukee Bucks

By Ti Windisch | Jan 1, 2019

MILWAUKEE, WI - JANUARY 22: General Manager Jon Horst speaks to media about the letting go of head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks Jason Kidd before game against the Phoenix Suns on January 22, 2018 at the BMO Harris Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images) /

The Milwaukee Bucks didn’t get a lot of fanfare when they hired Jon Horst, but he’s made some great moves so far.

Jon Horst was not a sexy pick as general manager of the Milwaukee Bucks when he was hired in June 2017. Horst was an in-house hire after Bucks ownership failed to agree on a different option, which is not an inspiring way to start a tenure.

Since then, Horst has done the following: fired Jason Kidd, hired Mike Budenholzer, traded for Eric Bledsoe and George Hill, let Jabari Parker walk instead of paying him big bucks (heh) and signed Brook Lopez. That’s not an exhaustive list of things Horst has done, and he has some missteps as well, but his Milwaukee Bucks are first in the NBA with a 25-10 record thus far.

Budenholzer and Giannis Antetokounmpo are getting a lot of well-deserved credit for the Bucks great season, but Horst should too. Even a move that looked bad at the time in drafting D.J. Wilson and then exercising his third-year option has panned out. Wilson has played tremendous defense and is shooting 47.6 percent from 3-point range, and he’s 6-foot-10. Not bad for a 17th overall pick.

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The real test for Horst is upcoming. The Bucks are good, but to make sure they keep Giannis they must be great. With both Bledsoe and Khris Middleton entering free agency this summer, it will be decision time for Milwaukee, and for Horst. He’s nailed a bunch of moves so far but now come the tough decisions.

Based on how Horst has done so far, Bucks fans shouldn’t worry much about how he handles the coming tests. Horst has taken an underachieving team and put it in position to lead the entire league. It’s early into his tenure as an executive, but the signs so far are promising for the Milwaukee Bucks.

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