For the first time since 2007, someone other than John Hammond will be making the Milwaukee Bucks’ selections in the NBA Draft. And while it’s perhaps concerning that the person now in charge will have been in the decision-making position for less than a week when the time comes to choose a player, it’s at least somewhat reassuring to remember that he’d been Hammond’s right-hand man – in the room and closely involved – for most of the last decade.

Jon Horst was officially introduced as the Bucks’ general manager on Monday, three days before Thursday’s 2017 NBA Draft, for which Milwaukee holds the Nos. 17 and 48 picks. Following Hammond’s departure to the Orlando Magic last month, and after a hurried and unideal hiring process that resulted in Horst getting the job and assistant GM Justin Zanik – who’d been running the Bucks’ pre-draft process – getting the boot, Milwaukee’s front office has endured unusual instability heading into a crucial offseason event.

But, as the longtime and until-recently director of basketball operations, Horst has been preparing for Thursday night for a year – scouting players, evaluating team needs, observing workouts – and, having been part of the last nine Bucks drafts, he said Milwaukee’s plan is "crystal clear" and he's ready to make the big decision.

"We feel very prepared for 17 and 48 for this draft," Horst said Tuesday at the Cousins Center. "We'll have a crystal-clear board, a draft plan with every draft trade-up scenario, every draft trade-down scenario, our groupings, where they break, which range we would trade to, which range we wouldn't, who has medical red flags, who has character red flags, etc., etc."

On Wednesday, reports emerged that center Greg Monroe will exercise his $17.8 million player option for next season, meaning the backup big man will return for 2017-18. If reserve center Spencer Hawes also opts in, the Bucks could have a log jam in the frontcourt, with Thon Maker and John Henson there, as well. A decision will also have to be made about restricted free-agent wing Tony Snell, who played well in his role last year.

But, according to Horst, current roster construction won’t necessarily affect draft-day approach. The new general manager reiterated Tuesday the Bucks were looking at the big picture, targeting long-haul players who would "be part of a championship-contending team."

"I don't think that we're going to make our drafting decision based on our roster as it stands today," Horst said. "This is a long-term plan to draft someone that can fit with this team long term."

Notably, Horst also indicated that the Bucks saw everyone they needed to during pre-draft workouts – which started May 4 and comprised 86 different players on 15 dates – and probably would select someone they’d had in for a session. He didn’t rule out Milwaukee drafting a player it hadn’t worked out, but the comments offered some insight into the team’s thought process.

"I think it would be hard," Horst said. "That would be hard, not impossible."

Among the alluring players that could be available to the Bucks in the first round but did not come in to Milwaukee are Harry Giles (Duke center), Ike Anigbogu (UCLA center), John Collins (Wake Forest forward), Terrance Ferguson (Australian guard), Justin Patton (Creighton center) and Luke Kennard (Duke guard).

The last time the Bucks held the 17th overall pick was in 2015, when they drafted Rashad Vaughn, who has struggled in the NBA (3.2 points on 32.7 percent field-goal shooting in 13.2 minutes over two seasons) and bounced between Milwaukee and the D-League. Last year, though, Hammond and the Bucks had a terrific draft, taking a chance on raw center Thon Maker in the first round at No. 10 and grabbing poised guard Malcolm Brogdon in the second round at No. 36. Maker has the potential to become a star, while Brogdon is a Rookie of the Year candidate for his productive play.

Given the Bucks’ roster and needs – head coach Jason Kidd mentioned outside shooting, but they could also use a point guard and a big man, especially if they trade Monroe or Henson – and Horst’s comments, here are five players Milwaukee could draft in the first round and three possibilities for the second round on Thursday night.

First round, No. 17

1. Jarrett Allen

School: Texas
Age: 19
Position: Center/forward
Bucks workout? Yes
Why they’d pick him: The 6-foot-10 Allen is long and athletic, which are two of the things the Bucks love most in a draft choice. He has an enormous 7-foot-5 wingspan, a lot of defensive upside and the ability to hit an outside shot. Allen can already run the floor, rebound and block shots at a high level, and while his offensive game is still raw, that hasn’t stopped Milwaukee before (see: Thon Maker, Giannis Antetokounmpo, John Henson, Larry Sanders), and he could fit Horst’s "long-term" vision, especially if he becomes a stretch-four.

2. Donovan Mitchell

School: Louisville
Age: 20
Position: Guard
Bucks workout? Yes
Why they’d pick him: Ultra-long, super-athletic and a good perimeter shooter, Mitchell offers a lot of the attributes Milwaukee would want. He’s only 6-foot-3 but, with a 6-10 wingspan, good passing ability and the potential to be a lockdown defender, Mitchell could be the perfect complement to Antetokounmpo – a defensively capable point guard who can create his own shot and hit a three-pointer. He might be the best roster fit of the available options in the draft.

3. Justin Jackson

School: North Carolina
Age: 22
Position: Forward/guard
Bucks workout? Yes
Why they’d pick him: Last year, Milwaukee drafted an older, less-athletic but more-seasoned college player in Brogdon, and it turned out to be one of their best selections in recent memory. Jackson (6-foot-8, 6-11 wingspan) is similar – an excellent shooter with a high basketball IQ who doesn’t make a lot of mistakes. He won’t jump out of the gym, but Jackson is versatile and a skilled scorer, which would help the Bucks offensively while Jabari Parker recovers from knee surgery.

4. Harry Giles

School: Duke
Age: 19
Position: Center/forward
Bucks workout? No
Why they’d pick him: Milwaukee worked out a lot of big men, so the frontcourt appears to be an area of focus. Once thought of as potentially the top overall draft pick, Giles has torn ACLs in both of his knees, and after returning from surgery he hardly made an impact for Duke. The Bucks’ medical staff helped Parker successfully recover and rehab from his first ACL tear, which is encouraging, and the talented Giles would still offer huge value if he's able to stay healthy.

5. Terrance Ferguson

School: Australia
Age: 19
Position: Guard
Bucks workout? No
Why they’d pick him: The 6-foot-7 Ferguson is skilled, athletic and, most important, an elite shooter. With a 6-9 wingspan, he has the ability to be an outstanding defender – like a more physically gifted Khris Middleton. Ferguson played professionally in Australia last season and still needs to get stronger, but he has a ton of upside.

Second round, No. 48

1. Dillon Brooks

School: Oregon
Age: 21
Position: Forward
Bucks workout? Yes
Why they’d pick him: Brooks’ Oregon teammate, Tyler Dorsey, publicly expressed his desire to play with Antetokounmpo and the Bucks, but it’s unlikely he’ll still be available when Milwaukee is on the clock. The 6-foot-6 Brooks has a well-rounded, jack-of-all-trades game – versatile scorer, good passer, willing defender, smart player – though he lacks top-caliber athleticism and isn’t a great three-point shooter.

2. Frank Mason

School: Kansas
Age: 23
Position: Guard
Bucks workout? Yes
Why they’d pick him: A 23-year-old point guard who can score, pass and defend and was a trusted leader and proven winner in college? Sounds a lot like Brogdon. The high-motor Mason is quick, strong and aggressive, a good shooter with three-point range. At 6-foot (6-3 wingspan), he’s a little bit undersized for the NBA, but has the physical tools and effort to compensate.

3. Sterling Brown

School: SMU
Age: 22
Position: Guard
Bucks workout? Yes
Why they’d pick him: At 6-foot-6, with a 6-10 wingspan and a 44.8 career three-point percentage, Brown has the size, length and shooting ability Milwaukee needs. He’s got deep range, a strong body and a good work rate, but his poor ball-handling and athleticism have him projected in the mid-40s. He’d be a solid, help-now player for the Bucks.

The 2017 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn begins Thursday at 6 p.m. ET. OnMilwaukee will have live coverage and updates from the Bucks' facility Thursday night.