The Bucks will be under plenty of pressure to trade star Giannis Antetokounmpo in the offseason, but they can convince him to stay by drafting an impact player. In recent years, we’ve seen the positive impact that high-level rookies can have, even on winning teams. VJ Edgecombe is a great current example who has completely altered the 76ers’ trajectory with his brilliant play right from the start of his career.
The Bucks desperately need a win in the draft
This strategy would definitely go against the grain when it comes to getting immediate help for Giannis. A more tried and true strategy for the Bucks would be packaging their draft picks, including the 2026 one, to acquire an established co-star. But their financial predicament pushes them more in the direction of a high-performing rookie.
The Bucks are still paying for Damian Lillard’s stretched-and-waived contract on top of their current roster. That doesn’t leave them a ton of room to operate under the current salary cap. Their best bet for finding an impact player without ruining the cap sheet would be targeting young players on rookie-scale deals.
Already, Milwaukee has seen the potential benefits of maximizing young players on cheap deals. Ousmane Dieng is a great recent example who is on an incredibly cheap contract. If the Bucks are able to retain his services in the offseason on a bargain offer, they will reap the benefits of any future breakout.
The quality and depth of this year’s draft also add to the appeal of finding a quality rookie. The Bucks are currently slotted for the 9th pick, which can land them an instant impact guard such as Darius Acuff Jr. or Mikel Brown Jr. Both have shown high potential as offensive engines, and could take some load off Giannis right away.
This year’s draft class has been touted as generational, not only for the talent at the top but also for the level of players available later on. With the NCAA’s shift towards paying players through NIL, many draft prospects are staying in school longer and coming into the league more ready to contribute right away.
This could bode well for the Bucks if they make the play-in tournament and fall outside the top 10. There should still be plenty of instant contributors available, even if they’re a little older and have less hypothetical ceiling. Getting a polished 22-year-old with more experience certainly wouldn’t be the worst thing for Milwaukee.
The Bucks will soon face an all-important crossroads with Giannis Antetokounmpo. The real test of their ability to retain him may come down to their drafting, which has historically been weak during the Giannis era. Finding value in their next rookie will be the best way for the Bucks to keep Giannis on the team.