The Bucks can go many different directions with their first-round pick, but they seem focused on acquiring a talented guard prospect. Milwaukee has reportedly met with multiple guards at the draft combine so far, one of whom could be their selection and ultimate replacement for Kevin Porter Jr. Porter performed decently well for the Bucks last season but he's unlikely to be a long-term member of the team's starting backcourt.
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 Bucks would be wise to add a talented guard
This season was a disaster for the Bucks and they could use more talent in just about every department. If they decide to trade superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo this summer, the Bucks should focus on getting more young talent in return for him. But regardless of their Giannis decision, adding a prime backcourt prospect could do the Bucks a lot of good.
Ryan Rollins seems like a potential building block as a guard, but he could use more support in ball-handling and playmaking. The Bucks ranked in the bottom half of the league in assists per game and the bottom 10 in turnovers per game, highlighting the need for better guard play. Fortunately, the Bucks already have their eyes set on some prospects who could change those rankings immediately.
Among the players confirmed to be on the Bucks' radar, 5 are guards: Darius Acuff Jr, Mikel Brown Jr, Brayden Burries, Labaron Philon Jr and Keaton Wagler. Some of those names may not be on the board by Milwaukee's pick at number 10, but this draft class is fortunately a very deep one. At least one of the mentioned guard prospects is almost guaranteed to be available for the Bucks.
It might be time to look beyond Kevin Porter Jr
Rollins earned his status as a cornerstone this season with his strong two-way play and rapid rate of progression. But Porter's status on the team is less certain coming off an injury-riddled season with a mixed bag of production. Porter played in 38 games while averaging 17 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists and 2 steals per game.
His numbers are solid for a starting guard, but his efficiency and turnovers held him back from making a bigger winning impact. Porter shot 46% from the field and just 32% from three, while also adding nearly 3 turnovers per game. He's a talented guard, but clearly not the natural floor general that the Bucks desperately need.
At age 26, Porter has outgrown the "young prospect" label and now faces serious questions about his future. He may try to find a better deal somewhere else than opt into his $5.4 million player option, which adds more pressure for the Bucks to find his replacement in the draft.
Add us as a preferred source on Google