If I told you before the 2013-2014 NBA season that the Milwaukee Bucks would be sitting in last place of the Eastern Conference with nine wins and that little known Greek rookie Giannis Antetokounmpo would be your sole reason for watching the team play, you would laugh at me.

Sad thing is that’s the truth. The Milwaukee Bucks coming into play today are 9-40 and have lost the interest of a normally strong fan base in Milwaukee. The Bucks came into the season with 11 new players on the roster and flat out have struggled to find lineups that work.

Free agent signings O.J. Mayo, Gary Neal and Caron Butler came into Milwaukee this summer with high hopes but now are the main reason for the struggles.

Mayo has struggled to find his shot from deep and still struggles to get to the basket, Neal clearly doesn’t want to be in Milwaukee and has voiced his opinion with teammates. The home grown Butler has done his best to make his homecoming a memorable one, but has struggled mightily in finding his game.

To be honest, there just has been nothing to cheer about this season for Milwaukee Bucks fans when it comes to winning. But on the bright side, loyal Bucks fans who have stuck with the team through this ugly season realistically do have some things to be happy about.

First and foremost, we seem to have all forgotten about what comes with the worst record in the league, and that is the greatest probability at receiving the No. 1 pick in the 2014 draft. Having the first pick in the 2014 draft is something that could save this franchise.

Players such as Andrew Wiggins and Joel Embiid from Kansas or even Jabari Parker from Duke could immediately become franchise players in the NBA next season. NBA analysts believe that this draft is one of the strongest in years and could produce a ton of talent at the next level. If the Bucks can play their cards right, they could be out of mediocrity very soon.

There is no question the Bucks will be overhauling once again this offseason, but I can guarantee that it will be to build around a top draft pick and the rookie Antetokounmpo. The only players seen as safe on the current Milwaukee roster are center Larry Sanders because of his recent 4 year, $44 million extension, the 19-year-old Antetokounmpo and his ridiculous potential and point guard Brandon Knight who does turn the ball over way too much, but makes up for it with his scoring abilities.

Bucks fans should be ecstatic about Antetokounmpo because not every day do you find a 6 -foot-9 athlete who can dunk, shoot and handle the ball. Antetokounmpo has started a majority of the Bucks games in the first half of the season. During this stretch, he has scored in double figures 10 times and recorded two double doubles. Also not forgotten is his ability to wreak havoc against stars such as Carmelo Anthony and Kevin Durant on the defensive end of the floor thanks to his 7-foot-3 wingspan.

Antetokounmpo may not be much yet and is extremely raw being 19, but he gives fans everywhere hope that the Milwaukee Bucks may indeed have a star in the making that can save them from mediocrity and being sold to Seattle.