Mikel Brown Jr.'s stock is soaring as the NBA Draft inches closer. No one knows exactly where he will land, but it looks like teams will be fighting tooth and nail to get him. The Milwaukee Bucks are among the teams with interest in the guard, but based on recent comments from ESPN's Sean Farnham, they would likely need to move up from the 10th spot to get him, a rumored possibility.
"[Mikel Brown Jr.] has now moved his name up and the momentum is on his side to potentially be the No. 5 pick in this draft."
"[Mikel Brown Jr.] has now moved his name up and the momentum is on his side."@SeanFarnham joins @MJAcostaTV to discuss the latest surrounding the fifth pick in the NBA draft 👀 pic.twitter.com/KWk8gobQL2
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) June 12, 2026
Bucks trading up is on the table
Per NBA insider Jake Fischer (subscription required), the Milwaukee Bucks have left front offices with the impression that they would like to trade up in the draft. With the top-four teams likely staying put, the Bucks could try and sneak their way up to fifth or sixth if the LA Clippers or Brooklyn Nets were willing to talk. In that scenario, Brown could—and likely should—be their guy.
Fischer notes that the Bucks recently deployed a travel contingent to Orlando to watch Brown work out, pouring gasoline on the fire. Of course, Brown isn't the only prospect the Bucks have worked out in this range, as Fischer notes that Darius Acuff Jr., Kingston Flemings, and Keaton Wagler are all on their radar as well. Any of those players could help, but Brown feels like the favorite.
Brown could be Bucks' next star guard
If the Milwaukee Bucks lose Giannis Antetokounmpo this summer, a lot of opportunities will soon open up on offense. Someone will have to carry the workload, and Brown is a player who would be glad to do so. At Louisville, he was an offensive maestro, lighting it up with his scoring but never forgetting about his teammates as a passer as well.
Brown isn't a lockdown defender—although he is serviceable in that regard—but he has the physical tools to grow into one at the NBA level. At 6-foot-5, 190 lbs, he is far from a small guard compared to someone like Acuff, whom teams have concerns with at the next level. If Brown keeps putting on size and working on his overall game, he won't have a ceiling on that side of the ball.
A backcourt of Mikel Brown Jr. and Ryan Rollins could wreak some legitimate havoc on both sides of the ball. The Milwaukee Bucks might have to get creative if they want to make it a reality, though.
Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis.
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