The Milwaukee Bucks defy the odds and land the third pick in the 2026 NBA Draft in the latest mock from FanSided's Christopher Kline. With it, they unsurprisingly select Duke's Cam Boozer, a top-three pick in essentially every single mock. With all the chatter about Giannis Antetokounmpo's time with the team potentially ending, landing Boozer could help them smoothly transition into the next era.
Boozer would be an excellent post-Giannis pickup for Bucks
A rebuild or retool might be in Milwaukee's near future. ESPN's Shams Charania dropped a bombshell report detailing all of the friction within the Bucks, highlighting that Giannis is eager to seek a change of scenery. In that scenario, adding Boozer and whatever the Bucks get in return for Giannis could be exactly what they need.
There's a lot to like about Boozer. He was the only player in the country to finish top 12 in points and rebounds this season. He's a monster down low, capable of using his size to score at will while also overpowering opponents to make an impact on the glass. The Milwaukee Bucks could lose their star power forward this summer, only to add another one.
With core components such as Ryan Rollins and AJ Green locked up, while others like Kevin Porter Jr., Ousmane Dieng, and Pete Nance all likely players the Bucks want to keep, this team could have a nice young foundation to build on. That goes without mentioning what the Milwaukee Bucks would get in a Giannis trade. They might not be title contenders right away, but they could develop into one.
Bucks would need insane luck to pull this off
Currently, Milwaukee is projected to pick 10th in the draft. There is always a chance they could jump, just like they do here. It must be noted that they cannot acquire the first overall pick, as the favorable selection between Milwaukee and New Orleans will go to Atlanta, with the Bucks getting the other. In this scenario proposed by Kline, Atlanta landed the first overall pick.
The Bucks would need some of the luck that Dallas had a few years back. After shockingly trading Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers, the Mavericks somehow landed the first overall pick despite it being a complete long shot. It was so miraculous that NBA fans were spewing conspiracy theories. The same would certainly happen if the Bucks traded Giannis and got a top pick soon after.
Bucks fans certainly wouldn't be upset, though. It would be the perfect way to rebound from what is shaping up to be a nasty divorce.
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