Milwaukee Bucks acquire Hugo Besson from Indiana Pacers in draft night trade
Jim Owczarski
When the NBA draft began Thursday, the Milwaukee Bucks did not possess their second-round draft pick as it was forfeited for “gun jumping” in talks with Bogdan Bogdanović in the 2020 offseason.
But, general manager Jon Horst worked a deal with the Indiana Pacers for the second straight year to acquire the last pick in the draft to acquire Hugo Besson, who Indiana selected at No. 58. It was announced in the early morning hours Friday.
Last season the Pacers picked Sandro Mamukelashvili (No. 54) and Georgios Kalaitzakis (No. 60) and sent them to the Bucks for the No. 31 selection (Isaiah Todd).
Journal Sentinel analysis
The Bucks signed Argentinian guard Luca Vildoza at the end of the regular season and added another international combination guard in Besson, ostensibly to add some scoring and ball handling depth. Besson, should he elect to sign with the Bucks and start his NBA career, would likely have to prove he can defend on the NBA perimeter and even out his three-point shot to earn significant playing time.
Hugo Besson vitals
Age: 21
Height: 6-5.
Weight: 180.
Vertical leap: 31.5 inches
Need to know
- A native of France, Besson averaged 13.9 points per game for the New Zealand Breakers. He also shot 30% from behind the three-point line.
- Has been a pro since 2017.
- Had planned to enter the draft last season until he suffered an ankle injury.
He said
Hugo Besson was in the crowd at the Barclays Center and met with the media afterward.
On being drafted
"I feel very grateful being picked. I've worked hard my whole career. I'm very grateful and I can't wait to get to work."
On his biggest skill, and what he needs to work on
"I think my ability to score is very good. I think I have to improve my body, for sure, my defense."
Draftniks say
The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor: "Projects as a good shooter thanks to soft touch from the line and midrange. Though that skill hasn’t regularly translated into three-point success, there are enough positive indicators for a fearless shooter like him who can drain threes off the catch and get buckets off the bounce. … Strong finisher around the rim who can use either hand to lay it up from awkward angles. … Creative passer. … Streaky shooter who has been up and down with his percentages throughout his career. Offenses will target him as a defender. He’s undersized and often lacks focus, which you’d hope he overcomes due to his athletic limitations.”
BasketballNews.com: "Although a streaky shooter, Besson has shown the ability to score on three levels and be a tough shot-maker. At 6-foot-5 he excels in the pick-and-roll and is a capable shooter off the dribble. He's not an elite athlete and is an average defender, but his skill and ability to lead the offense with pace and vision are special. Besson has a chance to provide guard minutes early in his NBA career."
NBADraft.net: “Sneaky athlete, better than looks at first glance. … Body can fill up nicely. … Has a quick first step. … Can drive from either direction. … Confident. Good basketball I.Q. ... Flashy ball handler, with a range of hesitation and change of pace dribbles. … Undersized – in all concepts – for a shooting guard. … Not an elite athlete. … Average wingspan. … Not strong or long enough to play as a shooting guard on a consistent basis at NBA level. … Not a true point guard.”