North Carolina star Caleb Wilson has decided to enter the 2026 NBA draft and will be one of the first five players selected if things go as planned.
It'll be interesting to see whether Wilson gets picked in the top five like many expect him to be, but nearly every mock draft has that happening. On the flip side of that, a lot of this will be dependent on which team has what picks and how he can be impacted by that.
One of the positive fits would be with the Milwaukee Bucks, as Wilson would be a very nice fit for a Bucks team that can use more young talent.
They can also use a player who can come in and make an immediate impact, which Wilson seems like he can do.
In the latest mock draft, that's exactly how things would unfold, predicting him to land fourth overall to Milwaukee.
“There is not-insignificant buzz around Caleb Wilson cracking the top three, and while that still feels improbable, it's not exactly unearned. Wilson put together a special two-way season at North Carolina, displaying the sort of defensive range and budding offensive skill set that should capture the imagination of NBA scouts. For Milwaukee in particular, with Giannis already halfway out the door, this is a dream outcome.
“Wilson's motor runs nonstop. He takes every defensive possession personally and endeavors to blow up as many plays as possible. There are times when he overextends, but Wilson's length, athleticism and anticipation yields special results as a roamer and a help-side rim protector. He's still a work in progress offensively, but Wilson is an explosive downhill athlete who plays effortlessly above the rim. His mid-range touch bodes well for his long-term shooting outlook, and Wilson's ability to pass on the move is an underrated attribute — and a potential sign of future stardom,” Christopher Kline of FanSided wrote.
If the Bucks have the fourth pick and Wilson is available, he seems like the obvious player to take. He's big, only getting better, and would be the ideal fit in the short and long term. However, I also wouldn't be surprised to see Milwaukee trade this pick, as it simply has to do whatever it can to keep Giannis Antetokounmpo around.