A day after the Milwaukee Bucks traded away standout player Richard Jefferson to San Antonio, general manager John Hammond will be forced to make another crucial decision heading into Thursday’s NBA draft.

Milwaukee holds the No. 10 pick and the pressure to find a thriving young star, who can make an immediate contribution and have a productive career, continues to surmount.

Last year, Hammond picked West Virginia forward Joe Alexander at No. 8, but he had a disappointing rookie season and played sparingly off the bench. Fortunately, in the second round, Hammond selected UCLA forward Luc Mbah a Moute, who was a key role player in the Bucks rotation.

While it remains to be seen if free-agent point guard Ramon Sessions will sign a long-term contract with Milwaukee, the Bucks are still looking for a point guard and floor leader who’ll be able to handle the demands of head coach Scott Skiles and effectively distribute the ball to Andrew Bogut and swingman, Michael Redd.

This year’s draft consists of a group of about 13 players after Blake Griffen, who are all considered fairly close together in talent.

Of those, nearly half are point guards and the Bucks figure to get one from the group that includes Ricky Rubio, Jrue Holliday, Jonny Flynn, Brandon Jennings and Stephen Curry.

Milwaukee doesn’t believe Curry or Rubio will be around when they’re on the clock. Holliday, who has drawn comparisons to Gary Payton, struggled in his workout, while Flynn and Jennings have been rated high on the Bucks draft board.

Jennings believes that the Bucks will pick a pick guard.

“As long as they get a point guard in here that can run the team, learns from the coach then I think you’ll see this team back in the playoffs again,” Jennings said.

It’s difficult to gauge what player will be available when the Bucks are on the clock but the mission under Hammond’s tenure has been to develop a young, efficient nucleus of talent that will help elevate the Bucks to an elite status in the league.

Moreover, Hammond is well aware that patience is wearing thin with a franchise that hasn’t had a winning season in six years and hasn’t won a postseason series since reaching the Eastern Conference finals in 2001.