With yet another loss under their belt, it's looking like the Milwaukee Bucks will have a favorable pick in the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft. In FanSided's latest mock, the Bucks select Arkansas guard Darius Acuff Jr. with the 11th overall pick. While Acuff is quickly rising up draft boards, he presents the ultimate boom or bust player that could dictate Milwaukee's direction moving forward.
Acuff has the talent to be a great player (with question marks)
On paper, Acuff has all of the tools to be a lead guard in the NBA. He's a pure bucket-getting machine, recently exploding for 49 points in an overtime defeat, capable of putting points on the board from all three levels. On the season, the freshman is averaging 22.2 points and 6.4 assists while knocking in 43.7 percent of his triple tries.
There are concerns, though. At 6-foot-3, Acuff is on the smaller side for a guard. He's also not a clear two-way threat, as his defense has question marks. Sound familiar? The Bucks went through both of those things with Damian Lillard, who was a nice player, but not the type of two-way piece who could help the Milwaukee Bucks win a title like Jrue Holiday did.
What Acuff could look like with the Milwaukee Bucks
What would adding a high-ceiling prospect like Acuff do for the Milwaukee Bucks? Can he help them reach the next level? Would adding him be enough to convince Giannis Antetokounmpo to stay after a year full of trade rumors? Would drafting a 19-year-old, as the Bucks did with AJ Johnson, be the wrong move over taking a more experienced player? These questions are beyond crucial.
Acuff does have the potential to answer a question mark that was brewing before the season: who is Milwaukee's second option? Before the season, there was no answer. Kevin Porter Jr. has emerged in that role, but he's been injured on and off. Acuff could come in and take that mantle, especially if the Milwaukee Bucks lose Porter in free agency this coming summer.
Again, the size is a concern. Can Acuff hold up against NBA competition? Unless one is elite on the offensive end, small guards are far and few between in today's league when it comes to legitimate contributors. Does he have potentially elite offensive qualities? Yes. Yet, there's no telling if they will translate to this level.
If the Milwaukee Bucks keep this selection, they have to nail it. Another missed opportunity could be the nail in the coffin for the Giannis Antetokounmpo era. Whatever they do with that pick, it must have enough of an impact that it helps keep Giannis in town.
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