With days remaining before the 2026 NBA Draft, the Milwaukee Bucks appear intent on improving drastically from the No. 10 pick that they currently hold. That is expected to be one of the results of the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade which has been in the works for multiple offseasons now, and is likely to continue to play a major role in how the Bucks retool, starting from draft day.
Per ESPN, Milwaukee has continued to signal that they will be arriving to the draft with “multiple first-round selections,” with the league-wide transaction wheel effectively in a holding pattern until the Giannis exit takes place. Milwaukee currently controls the No. 10 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, its first lottery selection in a decade.
However, the organization is operating under a self-imposed timeline to resolve Giannis’ status before the June 23 draft. The Bucks have sought packages featuring either an elite young player, a substantial cache of draft picks, or both. That aligns with Milwaukee’s current asset situation after years of sacrificing draft capital to maximize its championship window around Antetokounmpo.
Giannis’ contract structure also gives him leverage. His 2027 player option creates a potential path to free agency, meaning any acquiring team would likely seek confidence that the two-time MVP intends to remain long term. As a result, Antetokounmpo is expected to have significant influence over his destination.
Regardless of Antetokounmpo’s future, Milwaukee’s need for backcourt help has become increasingly evident. The Bucks have been linked to several guards, including Labaron Philon Jr. and Christian Anderson, with Nate Ament remaining an intriguing option as well.
The 6-foot-10 jumbo wing has reportedly been selective with workouts and possesses one of the widest projected draft ranges, with some teams viewing him as a top-six prospect while others believe he could slide deeper into the lottery. Still, the Bucks are now likely to have at least one more lottery pick, and are likely to have multiple options.
The post ESPN’s new Bucks mock draft pick with Giannis Antetokounmpo trade imminent appeared first on ClutchPoints.
