Pre-Draft Outlook
A “draft outlook” can only be so compelling for a team fairly bereft of picks. The Bucks tried to keep their window as a championship contender propped open by trading draft assets and more for proven pieces to fit around Giannis Antetokounmpo. Now, guard Damian Lillard is likely to miss all of 2025-26 recovering from the Achilles tear he suffered in the first round and, after another early exit, the knives of critics are out, urging an Antetokounmpo trade as the only way Milwaukee can replenish its cupboard for the coming seasons.
The Way To Go
The Bucks don’t control their first-round position until 2031, looking at pick-swaps with New Orleans, Portland or Washington along the way. The only reason that might not trouble some of their fans is that GM Jon Horst’s recent draft history hasn’t yielded much help. R.J. Hampton, Isaiah Todd, Marjon Beauchamp, Chris Livingston and AJ Johnson have been his top picks this decade, three or four contributors to other teams regularly left on the board. Even for this inexact science that is underperformance. The greatest need is at center with Brook Lopez aging out, so if you want names, here are a couple: Maxime Raynaud, a 7-footer from Stanford, and Auburn’s big man Johni Broome.
— Steve Aschburner
Here’s a quick look at Milwaukee’s current roster entering the Draft:
Under Contract
G: Jamaree Bouyea
G: AJ Green
G: Damian Lillard
G: Andre Jackson Jr.
F: Giannis Antetokounmpo
F: Kyle Kuzma
F: Chris Livingston
F: Pete Nance
F: Tyler Smith
Free Agents
G: Pat Connaughton
G: Ryan Rollins
G: Gary Trent Jr.
G: Stanley Umude
G/F: Kevin Porter Jr.
F: Bobby Portis
F: Taurean Prince
C: Brook Lopez
C: Jericho Sims