The Milwaukee Bucks need some size at small forward. Even another hybrid three-four player, like Kyle Kuzma, would help. One thing is clear. Asking AJ Green and Gary Trent Jr. to defend big wings isn’t working. They’re being bullied into oblivion.
It’s a way off in the future, but draft expert Jeremy Woo has the Bucks addressing that need with pick No. 10 in ESPN’s latest mock draft. Florida forward Thomas Haugh isn’t the perfect wing fit, but at 6-foot-9, 215 pounds, he has a combination of bulk and length the roster could certainly use.
Haugh has traits Bucks could immediately use
Like Kuzma, Haugh’s size and athleticism give him the ability to play either forward spot. He is, like Kuzma, a highly switchable defender.
Dec 11, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown (7) looks for a shot against Milwaukee Bucks forward Kyle Kuzma (18) in the fourth quarter at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
Haugh has taken a leap in his junior year for the Gators, his first as a regular starer. He’s shown growth particularly in the scoring department, averaging 17.2 points plus 6.6 rebounds and 2.3 assists. He’s also averaging nearly a steal and a block per game.
Haugh could be more efficient as a scorer, shooting 46.9% overall, 32.9% on threes, and 75.3% from the line, and is not a natural shooter. Still, he can get buckets. His real strength is his positional versatility. With 92 college games under his belt, he has the experience and maturity the Bucks should value in the draft. As long as they plan to contend around Giannis Antetokounmpo, they need players who can help now, not later.
Haugh also has big-game reps from Florida’s championship run last season. He played at least 22 minutes in every tournament game averaging 11.7 points, seven boards, 2.7 assists, and 1.2 blocks. He helped push the Gators past Texas Tech in the Elite Eight, 84-79, with a 20-point performance on 4-6 from three.
Writes Woo:
“Haugh continues to put together a terrific season at Florida, where he has carried a significant load and improved as a scorer. He profiles as a versatile plug-and-play option, with positional size (6-foot-9) and ball-moving instincts that should enhance whatever type of NBA lineups he is dropped into. As a 22-year-old prospect with an average shooting profile (32.9% from 3) who does not create a ton of his own offense, Haugh will be a better fit for teams looking to pivot into playoff contention. But as the lottery starts to thin out, he’s appealing as a reliable contributor who should provide rotation value on his rookie contract.”
Haugh is not the flashiest of prospects, but he should have a solid floor and many of Woo’s descriptors apply to the Bucks’ situation as contenders in need of size and versatility.
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