Milwaukee could use some backcourt insurance for next season
The 2025 NBA draft is less than two weeks away. If you haven’t yet done your research on this year’s class, don’t worry— Brew Hoop is here to help you cram. For the last month, we’ve been covering every prospect the Bucks have worked out. Now, we’ll be breaking down players the team should be targeting with the 47th pick. While Milwaukee may try to move up in the draft or trade out of it entirely, history also says Jon Horst likes to have at least one second-rounder each year.
While uncovering a star in the depths of the draft is unlikely, there is still real value available. Ryan Rollins was the 44th pick in 2022. Jericho Sims was the 58th pick in 2021. Recent 47th picks include Antonio Reeves (2024), Vince Williams Jr. (2022), and Svi Mykhailiuk (2018). The goal of this series will be to identify 47th pick targets for the Bucks who have a chance at becoming rotation-caliber players or at least sticking in the league for multiple seasons. It will be split up into three parts, each one covering a different position. Let’s kick things off by talking about some guards.
Why should the Bucks draft a guard? Damian Lillard is slated to miss most of the 2025-26 season as he recovers from his Achilles injury. Gary Trent Jr., Kevin Porter Jr., and Ryan Rollins are all hitting free agency this summer. The state of Milwaukee’s guard room for next year is up in the air, and adding a guy at that position through the draft would provide some insurance in case Dame misses more time than expected and not all of the free agents return.
Here are six guard prospects the Bucks should be considering at 47:
Kam Jones (dream target)
Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Height: 6’4”
School: Marquette
Year: Senior
ESPN big board rank: 47
Bucks workout participant? No
Jones is a dream target because most mocks have him going somewhere in the early second round or even late in the first. If he fell to 47, he could end up being a major steal for the Bucks. Jones made two all-conference teams in his college career and was a consensus All-American in 2024–25. His combination of on-ball prowess, off-ball comfort, and experience would make him a great option for Milwaukee in the backcourt.
Strengths
- Pick-and-roll scoring and playmaking
- Decision making
- Catch-and-shoot ability
- Finishing
- Ball handling
Weaknesses
- Reliant on screens
- Overall athleticism
- Pullup efficiency
- Positional size (if he plays more SG than PG)
Fit with Bucks: Outside of Kevin Porter Jr., Milwaukee had zero reliable ball handlers or creators off their bench last season. Kam Jones shouldered a massive creation load as a senior—his usage rate was 28.9% (for reference, Damian Lillard’s was 27.8% this past season). If his limited isolation juice and lack of explosiveness doesn’t emerge as big problems, Jones will be able to lead bench units in the regular season with his ability to pressure the rim and playmake out of the pick-and-roll. Additionally, he could play next to Giannis and a healthy Dame because he’s a good shooter off the catch. In 2023–24, when he played big minutes next to Tyler Kolek (who is now on the Knicks) in the backcourt, Jones shot 40.6% from deep.
Chaz Lanier
Robert Goddin-Imagn Images
Height: 6’5”
School: Tennessee
Year: Graduate
ESPN big board rank: 37
Bucks workout participant? No
Lanier spent his first four college seasons at North Florida before transferring up to Tennessee for his last dance. As a graduate, Lanier was one of the best scorers in the country. He averaged 20.7 PPG during the Volunteers’ Elite Eight run and dropped 29 points and six triples in their first round matchup vs Wofford. He was named to the All-SEC second team and Wooden All-American first team.
Strengths
- Positional size (6’9” wingspan)
- Catch-and-shoot ability
- Pullup shooting
- Three-level scoring
- Ball handling
Weaknesses
- Playmaking
- Shot selection and decision making
- Defensive engagement
- Physicality
Fit with Bucks: If Gary Trent Jr. leaves in free agency, Lanier could replace some of his production. He’s a flamethrower of a shooter who buries easy spot-ups and difficult movement shots at an elite level. The Nashville native knows his strengths and is ready to be a pro. His strengths do not include on-ball creation, especially for others, so he wouldn’t be the backup ball handler the Bucks are looking for.
Tyrese Proctor
Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
Height: 6’5”
School: Duke
Year: Junior
ESPN big board rank: 43
Bucks workout participant? No
Proctor was once projected to be a first round pick or even a lottery guy, but he never made “the leap” in college that people expected. He did, however, have a rock-solid junior campaign for a dominant Duke squad. The Australian native averaged 12.4 PPG and shot 40.5% from deep for the season. In March Madness, he went 13/16 from three in Duke’s first two games.
Strengths
- Passing and decision making
- Catch-and-shoot ability
- Pullup shooting
- Burst and ability to play with pace
Weaknesses
- Physicality
- Shooting consistency
- Defense
Fit with Bucks: Defining a clear role for Proctor is a bit difficult because he’s a tweener guard. His lack of strength hinders him significantly defensively so he’s not an ideal two guard. He’s not enough of a true playmaker to be a full-time point guard right away. On top of those things, he was only an above-average shooter in one of his three college seasons. If he pans out, Proctor would be another Ryan Rollins or maybe a Gary Trent Jr. variant if his shot is real.
Javon Small
William Purnell-Imagn Images
Height: 6’2”
School: West Virginia
Year: Senior
ESPN big board rank: 49
Bucks workout participant? No
Small has been one of the late risers in this year’s class— he’s quickly risen from a sleeper to a second-round lock. The 2024–25 All-Big 12 honoree had an electric senior season at West Virginia, averaging 18.6 PPG and 5.6 APG while contributing across the board.
Strengths
- Athleticism
- Downhill finishing
- Physicality
- Playmaking
- Competitiveness
- Point-of-attack defense
- Shooting
Weaknesses
- Positional size
- Efficiency
Fit with Bucks: Milwaukee has been lacking in the hustle, energy, and athleticism departments for a couple years now. Small could be the jolt the team needs with his relentless playstyle and vertical pop. He is 6’1” barefoot, so his impact could be mitigated at the next level, but sometimes guys who have that dawg in them flat-out beat the odds. Just look at T.J. McConnell, who is currently balling out in the Finals. If everything goes right, Small could play an energizer role off the bench similar to that of McConnell and Kevin Porter Jr.
Hunter Sallis
Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
Height: 6’5”
School: Wake Forest
Year: Senior
ESPN big board rank: 58
Bucks workout participant? Yes
Sallis has become one of the favorite draft targets of Bucks fans online. The 6’5” guard was very impactful in his junior and senior seasons for Wake Forest, averaging 18+ PPG and making an all-conference team in both years. Like Javon Small, Sallis has climbed up draft boards in the past month and is firmly a second round prospect.
Strengths
- Downhill finishing
- Mid-range scoring
- Defensive playmaking
- Transition play
Weaknesses
- Shooting consistency
- Physicality
- Playmaking
Fit with Bucks: Sallis is another guy cut from the Kevin Porter Jr. cloth. He provides an offensive spark and shakes up games with his ability to get downhill whenever he wants. Unfortunately, he isn’t in the same tier as KPJ or Javon Small as an overall scorer. Sallis hit 40.5% of his threes as a junior but shot below 28% in all three of his other seasons. He would need to grow as a shooter and also a playmaker to be the backup guard the Bucks need.
Max Shulga
Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images
Height: 6’5”
School: VCU
Year: Graduate
ESPN big board rank: 81
Bucks workout participant? Yes
Shulga is a polished, experienced, and efficient combo guard. As a graduate, he averaged 15.0 PPG and 4.0 APG on his way to winning Atlantic 10 Conference Player of the Year. He was the leader of a VCU team that made their second NCAA tournament appearance of the 2020s so far.
Strengths
- Catch-and-shoot ability
- Pullup shooting
- Playmaking
- Mid-range shooting
- Defensive playmaking
- Getting to the rim
Weaknesses
- On-ball defense
- Physicality
- Finishing
- Athleticism
Fit with Bucks: Shulga has all the skill-based traits required to be a rotation piece for the Bucks (or any other team) early on. However, he’s lacking in the athleticism department. He’s not strong or quick enough to make an impact on defense and he struggles with physicality on offense. The Ukrainian’s day-one-contributor potential is high enough to make him a candidate at 47, but he would also be a great get as an undrafted free agent should he fall out of the draft.
Which of these prospects would you draft at 47? Who was left off this list? Leave your thoughts in the comments below, and stay tuned for the wings/forwards article coming next!