Milwaukee Bucks May Look Elsewhere Despite Zikarsky’s Upside
With all of their centers potentially hitting free agency this offseason, the Milwaukee Bucks could be in the market for their next long-term big man. In Tankathon’s latest 2025 mock draft, the Bucks are projected to take Rocco Zikarsky with the 47th overall pick. While the 7-foot-3 center has intriguing upside, his game may not align with Milwaukee’s current needs.
Bucks Need Mobility, Not Just Size
Zikarsky is a dominant interior presence, using his massive frame and wingspan to deter drivers at the rim. However, much like Brook Lopez, his effectiveness drops significantly when pulled out to the perimeter. Opponents can exploit his lack of lateral quickness—an issue that ultimately contributed to Lopez’s playoff benching.
Given that, it would be surprising to see Milwaukee invest in another traditional, drop-coverage center—especially one still developing. This team needs mobile, athletic bigs who can guard in space and keep up with modern pace-and-space offenses.
Offensive Fit Is Also a Concern
Offensively, Zikarsky brings little outside of the paint. With no reliable perimeter shot, he could clog spacing for Giannis Antetokounmpo, a problem Milwaukee has tried to avoid by pairing Giannis with floor-spacing bigs. Even when they’ve deviated from that formula—like with Jericho Sims—the shared elite athleticism helped it work. Zikarsky lacks that physical explosiveness.
Draft Strategy Should Match Urgency
The Bucks are in win-now mode. Drafting a raw, 18-year-old project like Zikarsky feels out of step with their timeline. There will likely be older, more polished college players available in their draft range—prospects better suited to contribute immediately.
Finding a big man who can both shoot and defend in space is no easy task, but Milwaukee might be better served looking internally. Tyler Smith, already on the roster, could be worth a longer look.
Zikarsky may well develop into a quality NBA player, but he’s a better fit for a team with time to nurture his game—not one urgently trying to contend.
That’s an exciting update about Kingsley Suamataia visiting Chapel Hill! It’s always thrilling to see top recruits making moves early in their careers. I wonder how his skills will translate to the college level and if he’ll live up to the hype. The Chiefs’ run game could definitely use a powerhouse like him—imagine the impact he could have in the NFL. Do you think he’ll commit to Chapel Hill, or is he just exploring his options? I’m curious to see how his decision plays out. What’s your take on his potential fit with the Chiefs?