Bucks hope Georgia's Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is available in draft
ST. FRANCIS, Wis. -- With the No. 15 pick in hand, the Milwaukee Bucks don't expect Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to fall to them on draft night.
But they also didn't expect John Henson to be there when they picked at No. 14 last season. Caldwell-Pope, the former Georgia guard, headlined Saturday morning's draft workout, as he put on a shooting display along with former Providence guard Ricky Ledo.
Also in attendance for Saturday's draft workout at the Cousins Center were Southern Mississippi guard Dwayne Davis, Oklahoma forward Amath M'Baye, Florida State guard Michael Snaer and Dakota State guard Tyrone Gordon.
Former Minnesota forward Rodney Williams was supposed to attend the workout, but was a late scratch. Cal guard Allen Crabbe was also going to work out with the Bucks on Saturday, but an injury prevented him from coming.
There's little question Caldwell-Pope was the main attraction Saturday and though the Bucks don't think they'll have the chance to take him, they were pleased he decided to come to Milwaukee for a workout.
"He's here, which is a good thing," Bucks director of scouting Billy McKinney said. "Some guys won't work out, but the good thing about him coming to us and working out with us is there's always a possibility.
"You never know what happens with the draft. We'll try to be prepared for every eventuality."
Caldwell-Pope was Georgia's leading scorer in 29 of its 32 games and led the team in rebounding 16 times. He averaged 18.5 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game en route to winning SEC Player of the Year.
Not only did Caldwell-Pope shoot the ball well Saturday, he showed the Bucks his ability on the defensive end.
"When looking at his game, one of the things he does really well and something he takes a lot of pride in is his individual defense," McKinney said. "People know him as a shooter and a scorer, he was the most valuable player in the SEC this year, but I think defense is one of his strengths."
One of the best shooters in this year's draft, Caldwell-Pope grew up studying the game of the NBA's best shooters. He shot 37.3 percent from beyond the arc last season, but often times settled for 3-pointers instead of creating off the dribble.
Caldwell-Pope knows he has to work on creating his shot off the dribble and is focused on making it a strength.
"Just getting in the gym and working on it," Caldwell-Pope said. "I put up a couple hundred shots every night, or whenever I get in the gym. I really just focus on that, but also mix it up a bit. I take some off the dribble, catch and shoot, just a lot of drills with my shooting ability to improve it every day."
With its backcourt in limbo for next season, Milwaukee could use the scoring, shooting and size Caldwell-Pope would provide.
"They are a great group of guys," Caldwell-Pope said of the new coaching staff in Milwaukee. "I can tell that from just being around them and just talking to them for a bit. They seem like a great group of guys.
"Milwaukee is a great city. I got in a day early. Just riding around and seeing the city, of course the lake view is beautiful."
The Bucks hope to have Crabbe workout in Milwaukee sometime before the draft on June 27. Crabbe had to drop out of a recent workout with Brooklyn due to a foot injury. He told reporters after the workout that he felt like his foot was about to break.
"We'll try to get him in here at a little bit later time, once his injury heals up," McKinney said. "That's part of the process. Guys workout with so many teams that you are going to get some bangs and bruises. It's just like the NBA season."
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