The Milwaukee Bucks will enter the 2026 NBA Draft with both the 10th and 13th overall picks, after acquiring the latter from the Miami Heat in the Giannis Antetokounmpo blockbuster. According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, Alabama point guard Labaron Philon Jr. is very much on the table as a potential Bucks selection, particularly now that they have multiple selections to work with (subscription required).
"I believe Labaron Philon Jr. is in play at No. 10 and 13 to the Bucks now that Milwaukee controls that pick by way of the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade," Fischer writes. "Philon told me that the Bucks were the one team he worked out for multiple times and I've heard from multiple sources with knowledge of the Bucks' thinking that they are quite high on the Alabama point guard."
If Milwaukee's interest in Philon was a secret, it's not anymore. Assuming he is on the board when the Bucks are on the clock, it shouldn't surprise anyone if Philon ends up in green.
Bucks rumored to be eyeing Philon with keen interest
Fischer indicates that Milwaukee is more likely to target Philon with the 13th pick than No. 10, which makes sense given that most mock drafts and big boards have him falling outside the top 10 selections.
"My sense is that Philon should be in play No. 13, so that could well open up a different target for Milwaukee at No. 10 … if the Bucks come to a similar conclusion that Philon can wait three picks."
If Fischer is right, that's a huge deal for the Bucks. Instead of reaching for Philon if their other preferred guards are gone by the 10th pick, they can now invest in another prospect with a good shot at coming away with Philon to boot.
Perhaps the surprising thing is that, more recently, Philon had faded from the dominant wave of Bucks draft speculation. The discussion shifted to forward Nate Ament and guard Kingston Flemings, whose stock slipped, after all, due to poor measurements at the NBA Combine.
It's not like Milwaukee fans suddenly forgot about Philon, as he remained in the general conversation, but for many, the Alabama playmaker fell just a bit out of focus as other prospects surged.Â
Having another lottery pick changes everything for the Bucks
The Bucks being able to have their cake and eat it too changes everything. Now, they can go and get Ament at No. 10, if they feel so compelled, or even Michigan center Aday Mara, or his teammate Yaxel Lendeborg - whoever - and fill their backcourt needs with Philon.Â
On the flip side, if they find out other teams are higher on him than expected, scooping up Philon first, then moving for a wing at No. 13 could be the most prudent play. The thing is, they have options, and from the sound of it, there's a good chance Milwaukee hopes to have Philon as one of them.Â
Of course, it would have been preferable for the Bucks had this intel waited until after they made their picks. But then, choosing when the leaks get out isn't always up to the team. Is general manager Jon Horst only fronting, acting interested in Philon so other teams grab him early and leave the Bucks with the chance to take another prospect they like better? Maybe, but that's dead-end speculation.Â
What's true is that Philon would certainly be an intriguing fit alongside Ryan Rollins in the Bucks' backcourt of the future. If Horst can get him at No. 13 and a wing beforehand, well, that's too good a scenario to jinx. Shh. Who said anything about it?Â
Add us as a preferred source on Google