NBA Mock Draft: Milwaukee Bucks Select Bruno Fernando from Maryland

NBA Mock Draft Pick #30 - Bruno Fernando, Center, Maryland

SB Nation’s Milwaukee Bucks blog Brew Hoop explains the pick:

The Bucks hoped to get Nic Claxton’s versatile game under Mike Budehnolzer’s tutelage, but they’ll settle for Bruno Fernando, whose body is far more NBA-ready. The sophomore out of Maryland combined brute force with a soft touch around the rim, which could be a boon for a Milwaukee team that loves to attack the rim. With his ability to rim-fun following perimeter pick-and-rolls, you can already see defenses quivering at the attention Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton garner before they shovel it off to Fernando for a potential alley-oop.

While his defensive instincts will need plenty of work, Bud showed incredible aptitude installing a defensive system that could be built around a big who isn’t as inclined to leave the paint. There will be a learning curve on that end, but he flashes enough raw skills to make it worthwhile. And while he rarely shot from deep, his 76.3% career free throw mark points to a projectable shooter for Milwaukee as they shore up their center depth and gain some insurance in case they can’t retain Brook Lopez.