Everyone is keeping an eye on the OKC Thunder as the NBA Draft nears. With two first-round picks at their disposal, NBA insider Jake Fischer (subscription required) reports that people around the league are monitoring them as a potential trade-up candidate. The Milwaukee Bucks should firmly be among the teams in contact with them.
Thunder's draft workouts should lead to a call to Milwaukee
Per HoopsHype's workout tracker, the Thunder have worked out Nate Ament and Yaxel Lendeborg in recent weeks. The problem for OKC is that their first pick isn't until 12, and countless mocks have the Bucks taking Ament at 10, while the Golden State Warriors grab Lendeborg at 11. The Thunder's ideal prospects could be ripped from their grasp... unless they were to trade up.
Milwaukee would be a natural partner. The first four selections are seemingly already set in stone, while picks five through nine will be guard-heavy. If OKC were to move up to 10th, they would likely have their choice between Lendeborg and Ament. How exactly those workouts went could be the determining factor. If one impressed more than the other, a trade-up only makes more sense.
Bucks should not be opposed to trading down
If the Milwaukee Bucks were to help the Thunder move up to 10th, a deal should center around the 12th and 17th picks in this draft. This class is viewed as one of the most stacked in recent memory, and the chance to grab two of the top 20 picks would be a desirable scenario. If they really want to get a deal over the finish line, perhaps OKC could also dangle pick 37.
Per The Athletic's Eric Nehm, two players the Bucks have interviewed ahead of the NBA Draft are Baylor's Cameron Carr and Alabama's Labaron Philon Jr. In this hypothetical scenario, they could likely grab both. With the backcourt likely to go through renovations this summer, that has to be something that would captivate Milwaukee.
Teams can interview up to 20 players at the combine, so this is not an exhaustive list, but these players confirmed to me they met with the Bucks:
— Eric Nehm (@eric_nehm) May 14, 2026
Darius Acuff Jr.
Nate Ament
Mikel Brown Jr.
Brayden Burries
Cameron Carr
Chris Cenac Jr.
Aday Mara
Labaron Philon Jr.
Keaton Wagler
The Milwaukee Bucks should leave no stone unturned leading up to the NBA Draft. Eye prospects in their range. Explore trade-up scenarios. Look at trade-down options. Of course, what they do will have something to do with whether or not they trade Giannis Antetokounmpo. Yet, swapping out the 10th pick for 12 and 17, plus potentially more, works in either case.
How bad do the Thunder want to secure Ament or Lendeborg? Time will tell.
Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis.
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