The Milwaukee Bucks’ horrendous 2-8 start is in their rearview mirror—as it should be. This team is too talented to be losers, and they’re now starting to settle down. The thing about the Bucks is they’ve got a pretty defined hierarchy—two superstars at the lead, some high-quality veterans, and a few emerging young studs. But, for this draft, we’ll be sticking to familiar names NBA fans—and Milwaukee diehards, of course—know.
(For our previous NBA Roster Insider Drafts, just click here: Atlanta Hawks | Boston Celtics | Brooklyn Nets | Charlotte Hornets | Chicago Bulls | Cleveland Cavaliers | Dallas Mavericks | Denver Nuggets | Golden State Warriors | Houston Rockets | Indiana Pacers | Memphis Grizzlies | Miami Heat)
Your Main Man: Giannis Antetokounmpo
As if there was anyone else, right?
Giannis Antetokounmpo is a no-brainer choice to lead your fantasy team. In fact, across the Association, the Greek Freak is probably a top-five player in fantasy as he is in real-life contexts. And, quite frankly, the stats don’t lie: 32.7 PPG (first in the NBA), 11.6 RPG (sixth), 6.0 assists, 0.7 steals, and 1.5 blocks (eleventh).
That’s an impressive stat line any which way you cut it, and Antetokounmpo’s durability means he is likely playing every game—or as many as possible. The Bucks’ recent run of strong play and the looming race to the playoffs suggest those numbers might go up even more as the former MVP looks to carry the Bucks to the postseason.
Surefire Studs: Damian Lillard, Brook Lopez
Lillard was once upon a time a “main man” himself, but those days are behind him—especially in Milwaukee, where he is Robin to Antetokounmpo’s Batman. That doesn’t mean Dame isn’t putting up big numbers because he is: 25.7 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 7.5 APG, and. 1.0 SPG. Expect those numbers to stay at that range or even go up once the games start to matter more.
This slot is a toss-up between Lopez and Bobby Portis. And, if we’re being honest, you’ll be getting good value from either of them. But we went with Lopez here because of his 3.1 stocks (1.0 steal + 2.1 blocks), which make him just a tad more valuable in terms of fantasy. Besides, 11.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.5 assists aren’t too shabby either.
Low Cost, High-Value Picks: Bobby Portis, Khris Middleton
Portis is a terrific role player—and he has been for a while now with the Bucks. This season isn’t any different, as he is posting 12.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 1.7 assists. He’ll get a block or a steal here and there, too, but not at Lopez’s level of consistency on that side of the ball.
Middleton, on the other hand, was once Antetokounmpo’s trusted no. 2, but injuries have derailed him over the years. He’s probably not getting back to that role, though the third wheel will likely be his ceiling once he gets going. For now, Middleton is a low-cost, high-value fantasy pick with per-game averages of 8.4 points, 3.0 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 1.2 steals. He’s still feeling his way around, so expect those numbers to go up once he settles down.
