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The Milwaukee Bucks took a somewhat unexpected turn with the #17 pick in the NBA Draft, selecting UNLV shooting guard Rashad Vaughn.
Vaughn, the Mountain West Freshman of the Year, is one of the draft's best shooters and scorers. He averaged 18.3 points per game on just under 45% shooting from the floor and 38.4% shooting on three-pointers. A true offense-first player, Vaughn is adept at creating his own shot and comfortable using lots of possessions while on the floor. His 56% true shooting percentage isn't a big red flag, but it's the lowest of the wing players projected in this year's first round. Vaughn's block and steal rates are also very low, hurting his stock in many analytical draft models.
This selection fits right in line with Milwaukee's youth movement, as Vaughn is one of the draft's youngest players --he doesn't turn 19 until August.
Vaughn isn't considered a strong defender and will likely be relied on exclusively as a designated bench scorer early in his career. His shot selection needs a lot of refining, and he's currently recovering from a meniscus tear suffered back in February. He'll provide depth at the SG position, presumably behind restricted free-agent Khris Middleton and bench scorer O.J. Mayo.
The selection of Vaughn came as a bit of a surprise considering some of the other players available at #17, including Arkansas power forward Bobby Portis and Wisconsin forward Sam Dekker. The fit is questionable for Vaughn, who doesn't seem to align with Milwaukee's pressuring defensive system, and there were other positions of greater need for the Bucks. But Vaughn's natural scoring ability is impressive, especially at a young age, and General Manager John Hammond has always prioritized talent over fit in the draft.