Milwaukee Bucks manage Draft shenanigans, select Chris Livingston 58th
After selecting a polished candidate with their 36th overall pick, the Milwaukee Bucks drafted a project in Chris Livingston at 58.
Only, it took some draft shenanigans to pull it off.
Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul, notorious for representing LeBron James and other high-profile NBA players, previously canceled Livingston’s seven remaining draft workouts, leading many to believe he had a promise to be drafted by someone.
Sources: Kentucky’s Chris Livingston has cancelled all seven of his remaining workouts for the 2023 NBA Draft, fueling belief that he’s received a draft promise from a team.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 9, 2023
The Milwaukee Bucks partook in some Draft Day shenanigans and grabbed Chris Livingston with the 58th overall selection.
On Thursday night, Paul was reportedly calling teams in the second round, asking them not to draft Livingston. A unique path for a player who wasn’t guaranteed a draft position otherwise.
Update here: Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul began calling teams in the second round and requested them not to take client Chris Livingston. It‘s believed Livingston has a set draft spot in the second round. https://t.co/5C5XWGa4vH
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 23, 2023
In the end, the Bucks must’ve been the team who promised to draft him, as they grabbed him with the final selection at 58th overall.
During his only year at Kentucky, he averaged 6.3 points, 4.2 rebounds and 0.7 assists per game. His shooting splits weren’t much better, connecting on 42.9 percent of all his field goals, 30.5 percent of his threes and 72.2 percent of his free throws.
He’s only 19 and could be a long-term project for the Bucks to stash elsewhere. There is a path where he becomes a legit rotational player in the NBA, but he needs to cross many hurdles to make that a reality.
He’s 6-foot-6 with a massive 6-foot-11 wingspan. He’s also a strong player who has great vertical explosion. He combines excellent athleticism with a non-stop motor, a trait he shares with the Bucks’ other draft pick. His length and strength give him the physical tools to become a good defender in the NBA. Rebounding is another strength.
He didn’t display an outside shot at Kentucky and takes far too long to get his shot off. If he wants to stick around in the league, he’ll have to space the floor and knock down catch-and-shoot threes. Unfortunately, that may be the strongest part of his offensive game despite the minimal results. His play off the bounce is practically non-existent and not something he should rely on.
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Livingston has a long way to go and is definitely a swing-for-the-fences pick by the Bucks. Don’t expect him to have an impact in Milwaukee any time soon.