The Board of Governors will vote on Thursday on the 3-2-1 draft lottery reform proposal, which would be in effect for three seasons (through 2029) and make future draft picks even more valuable to curb tanking. That isn't ideal for the Milwaukee Bucks, as this will likely be the summer they trade Giannis Antetokounmpo, but it could still play in their favor if they're able to accumulate draft picks in the same year.
As Jake Fischer of The Stein Line wrote on Wednesday, Milwaukee could do so to increase its chances of landing multiple top picks (subscription required):
One such strategist told me this week that, if tasked with finding a new trade home for Giannis Antetokounmpo, he would advise the Bucks to seek as many picks in the same draft year as possible if they are higher on, say, 2028's projected class of draftees compared to 2027 or 2029. That way Milwaukee could theoretically give itself a greater chance at not only the No. 1 overall pick but perhaps multiple picks in the same draft that could jump into the top five.
The issue, of course, is that other teams will be aware of this and will be far more reluctant to part with picks that could turn into top selections if they kept them. Still, it at least gives Milwaukee a way to try to capitalize on the lottery reform, which Fischer wrote is expected to receive the 23 votes needed to pass.
Bucks could try to accumulate draft picks from the same year
As things currently stand, Milwaukee won't control a first-round pick until 2031 after this year's draft, but that could change with an Antetokounmpo trade. The Bucks should've already been planning to receive more draft capital before then, but the lottery reform would make that an even larger priority.
Milwaukee spent the past several years sacrificing its future (financially and in future picks) to win another title with Giannis, meaning that it really needs to get as much as possible in return for the 31-year-old. Teams will be more careful about parting with first-rounders, and that could be enough to eliminate potential suitors from the mix, but the desperation to win a title for other suitors is still real.
The Bucks should see if they can leverage that to secure several first-round picks in the same year for the 2027, 2028, or 2029 draft class they find most intriguing, though it hurts that they don't have much to work with to start.
An Antetokounmpo trade was never going to be easy, hence why it has taken so long to reach the point where both sides seemingly believe it's finally time to move on. Factors will work against the Bucks, like his injury history and contract status, and the reform would add a whole new level to that.
Milwaukee should try what the strategist suggested to Fischer, so it could maybe come out on top sometime over the next few years with a winning hand.
Add us as a preferred source on Google