The stars are aligning for the Milwaukee Bucks to have at least two picks in the 2026 NBA Draft. Per NBA insider Jake Fischer (subscription required), Milwaukee is operating as if they will have picks 10 and 13—their own and Miami's. If the Bucks do hold those two picks, speculation sure makes it seem like Nate Ament and Labaron Philon Jr. could be their choices.
Ament is garnering buzz
Per Fischer, the Bucks recently sent a party that included General Manager Jon Horst and new Head Coach Taylor Jenkins to visit Ament during the pre-draft process. It shouldn't be surprising, as Bucks part-owner Jimmy Haslam went to Tennessee and recently donated $150 million to the school, where Ament attended. Haslam would sure like to have a Volunteer playing well for his team.
Ament is arguably the biggest boom or bust prospect in this entire class. His highs were through the roof, while his lows were ugly to watch. The biggest red flag is that the forward shot below 40 percent during his freshman season. That's concerning for anyone, but especially for a 6-foot-10 player who has enough size to bump that number up.
The Bucks would bank on upside here, as they have done with many prospects in the past. It hasn't worked out since Giannis, and it very well may not work here. Yet, if the Greek Freak leaves, it would make more sense to take a gamble than it has in years past.
Bucks want a guard
It was already clear based on their growing list of workouts, but Fischer reiterated that the Bucks have a desire to land a lead guard in this draft. While the top players like Mikel Brown Jr., Keaton Wagler, and Kingston Flemings may be gone by the time they are on the clock, Labaron Philon Jr. should be there at 13, and the Bucks would likely gladly scoop him if they acquire that pick.
Philon would be a seamless fit in the backcourt with Ryan Rollins. During his sophomore season at Alabama, he averaged 22 points, five assists, and 1.2 steals per contest. He's the type of energetic bucket-getter who could give Milwaukee a go-to option offensively if Giannis departs. One would like to see him pack on a few pounds to hold up better defensively, but that could come in time.
Ament and Philon would be an interesting haul, but depending on how big the Giannis trade is, there is a chance Milwaukee could have an extra first-rounder on top of these two. With a class boasting so much talent, it would make plenty of sense to acquire as many draft picks as possible.
Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis.
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