The Bucks have built a strong foundation with a focused draft class.
There was a lot riding on this draft for the Milwaukee Bucks after they finally traded now-former franchise star Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Heat and they made the most of the opportunity ahead of them.
The Bucks have thrown themselves head first into a rebuild and adding key players into this draft to hopefully make them cornerstones of the franchise moving forward was crucial and that's exactly what Milwaukee did, adding impactful players while addressing the existing holes in their roster.
Adding Support in the Backcourt
With the 10th-overall pick, the one awarded to the Bucks organically via the NBA Draft lottery, the Bucks selected Arizona freshman guard Brayden Burries, possibly the best guard that could have been available at that stage of the draft after a stacked early class.
Burries led the Wildcats in scoring at 16.1 points per game and steals with 1.5 per game and coming third in assists with 2.4 per game. A 39.1% three point shooter and 49.1% shooter from the field, Burries provides excellent pace and efficiency to the Bucks while providing another scoring option in the back court.
The Bucks received Tyler Herro form the Miami Heat when they traded away Antetokounmpo, so as of now it looks like the Milwaukee starting backcourt is filled between Ryan Rollins and Herro, but Burries provides an excellent bench option to switch in with Herro or, if the Bucks have any plans to flip Herro later in the offseason, could be an solid starting option himself.
Addressing the Size Issue
A Bucks roster without Antetokounmpo was always going to find itself immediately in need of big men and the Bucks' 13th-overall pick, the one they did acquire from the Heat, addresses that need head on. The Bucks selected Tennessee freshman forward Nate Ament with that pick, a 6'10, 207 pound forward that was second in both scoring and rebounding for the Volunteers during the 2025-26 season.
He may not be as physically imposing as Antetokounmpo was, but he is still just 19-years-old and has plenty of time to continue developing, but even now his length at 6'10 presents immense potential for him as a rebounder and shot blocker.
The Bucks also picked up one more player in the second round when they traded for the 60th-overall pick from the Orlando Magic for cash considerations, putting them in the position to draft "Mr. Irrelevant."
They used that pick to draft Malique Lewis, a 21-year-old, 6'8 small forward who played in the G-League in 2024 and has also played internationally in both Spain and Australia.
During the 2025-26 season for S.E. Melbourne of the NBL Lewis averaged 7.1 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game.
Lewis adds even more size and physicality to the roster and even if he may not have a huge role in the coming season, finding a second-round pick when they otherwise wouldn't have had one without sacrificing players or picks is another net positive for Milwaukee.
What Happens Now?
The Bucks have completely changed their identity between the haul they received from the Heat and their three newest picks and even if there's still more to be done or several more rebuilding years that lie ahead, they can rest assured that they made the most out of this draft.
