Do the Bucks really need another point guard in the draft?

Early last season, then-coach Jason Kidd remarked that his Milwaukee Bucks team was basically all guards. The point guard position went at least three deep, not counting do-it-all star Giannis Antetokounmpo, and most of the roster was comprised of players with skills traditionally displayed by backcourt players.

Anetetokounmpo and at least three point guards are in line to be back on the roster for the 2018-'19 season. So, with the NBA draft approaching Thursday, would it make sense for the Bucks to select another guard, specifically a point guard, with the No. 17 pick?

Today's first in a four-part Bucks draft series examines the team's point guard situation and the prospects that might fit their needs at that position in the draft.

Current point guards

Eric Bledsoe, Malcolm Brogdon, Matthew Dellavedova and Brandon Jennings are under contract for next year.

However, that landscape could shift quickly. Bledsoe and Brogdon are in the final year of their contracts, with Bledsoe owed $15 million and Brogdon due to make about $1.5 million in the last year of his rookie contract. Both are eligible to sign extensions this summer and the Bucks will need to make a decision about how they want to move forward.

Jennings' spot on the roster is in flux. He's on a non-guaranteed, minimum deal for 2018-'19, but that contract reportedly will become guaranteed if he's on the roster as of July 1. The Bucks will need to decide whether Jennings, who was signed in large part because of simultaneous injuries to Brogdon and Dellavedova, is worth committing to for another season.

Why drafting a point guard would make sense

Even if the Bucks bring back three point guards from last year's roster, that doesn't solidify their roster at that position for the future considering the contract situations of Bledsoe and Brogdon, not to mention Dellavedova's contract expiring in 2020.

A rookie point guard might not get extensive playing time as the third or fourth option off the bench, but he would have the chance to learn and develop in coach Mike Budenholzer's system behind a group of veterans who will challenge him. Budenholzer and his staff had success developing Jeff Teague and Dennis Schroder into solid NBA point guards while in Atlanta.

This situation could then give the Bucks some security going into the future as they map out who fits best at the point as a complement to the likes of Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton.

RELATED : Roundup of mock drafts for the Bucks

Why drafting a point guard may not be ideal

Barring trades or injuries, a rookie point guard probably wouldn't get much playing time this season. As valuable as off-court development time might be, the Bucks are primed to make a move up the standings now and need someone who can contribute sooner than later.

This draft pick could then be better used to address one of the team's other positions of need while leaving the possibility open to finding a solid, bargain point guard in the free-agent market over the summer, the trade market, or the draft next year.

Skills needed

The Bucks aren't like most teams when it comes to what they need their point guards to do. Since Antetokounmpo has the ball in his hands so much, Milwaukee's point guard doesn't always bring the ball up the court or initiate the offense.

There's a lot of off-ball time for Bucks point guards, which means they need to be adept at being in the right spots to space the floor and be prepared to either knock down catch-and-shoot threes or burst into the lane either to try to score or kick out to an open shooter.

At the other end, the Bucks have relied on their point guards to anchor the front of the defense, cutting off opposing point guards.

A tough, defensive-minded point guard who is a threat without the ball — both inside and out — would be an ideal candidate for most NBA teams, including the Bucks.

A few options

Here is a group of point guards who could be available for the Bucks at No. 17.

(Player, age, height, weight, previous team)

AARON HOLIDAY, 21, 6-foot-1, 187 pounds, UCLA

Holiday, the younger brother of NBA guards Jrue and Justin, is a scoring machine. He averaged 20.3 points per game during his junior season at UCLA while knocking down 42.9% of his 205 three-point attempts on all types of shots (catch-and-shoot, deep, etc.). Holiday's shooting was consistent in college as he shot 42.2% from three-point range for his career on at least 93 attempts each season.

He also had 5.8 assists per game, acquitting himself well while running the Bruins' offense. While a bit undersized relative to NBA point guards, Holiday battled defensively in college and averaged more than 1.1 steals per game each season.

ELIE OKOBO, 20, 6-3, 180, Pau-Orthez (France)

Less familiar — or even unknown — to most American basketball fans, Okobo has the shooting, skills and experience to potentially jump right into an NBA rotation. He's been playing professionally in France since 2015 and had a breakout season this year before announcing his intention to enter the NBA draft. Okobo, a lefty, knows how to find or create his own shot, can throw down dunks and is a solid passer. His size and long arms give him intriguing defensive potential.

LONNIE WALKER IV, 19, 6-5, 196, Miami (Fla.)

According to most mock drafts, Walker is expected to be off the board before the Bucks pick. He's a long, physical, young guard with upside — all buzzwords that over the past few years have screamed "Bucks."

VILLANOVA POINT GUARD DU JOUR

Jalen Brunson and Donte DiVincenzo, who together helped lead Villanova to a pair of national championships, could be interesting prospects. Both are projected as late first-rounders or second-round picks, but all it takes is one team to fall in love.

Brunson (21, 6-2, 200), the college player of the year, is a reliable playmaker, a capable scorer from inside and out and has the feel of being a Brogdon-esque player — a senior who falls in the draft despite a decorated college career then hits the ground running in the NBA.

DiVincenzo (21, 6-5, 200) was buoyed by a great NCAA Tournament, including being named the Final Four's Most Outstanding Player, and decided to turn pro after his junior season. He's a versatile, do-it-all guard who brings solid scoring and intensity on defense and on the boards.