Giannis and Doc Rivers speak on another early playoff exit for Bucks
Giannis Antetokounmpo and Doc Rivers speak on another early playoff exit for the Bucks following their Game 5 loss to the Pacers on April 29, 2025.
The NBA lottery May 12 will potentially change the course of one franchise that will have the exclusive opportunity to draft surefire No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg — though Wisconsinites might be more interested in where his Duke teammate winds up).
The Milwaukee Bucks, of course, aren’t participants in the lottery. And they won’t have a first-round pick in the 2025 draft at all. So what should we know about the Bucks and their NBA draft situation?
Will the Bucks be participating in the NBA draft lottery?
Nope, that’s only for non-playoff teams. Spots 1-14 in the 2025 draft will be assigned May 12.
It bears mentioning that some playoff teams, like Oklahoma City and Houston, could wind up with a nice pick thanks to previous trades with non-playoff teams Philadelphia and Phoenix, respectively. But that’s not the Bucks’ situation.
Will the Bucks have any draft picks in the first round of the 2025 draft?
Nope. They traded their first-round pick in 2020 to the New Orleans Pelicans in the exchange that brought them Jrue Holiday.
Will the Bucks at least have a second-round pick in 2025?
The Bucks will receive the second-best of Washington’s three second-round picks as part of the Khris Middleton trade. Milwaukee’s own second-round pick was also traded in 2020, originally sent to Cleveland for the rights to Turkish player İlkan Karaman.
What picks do the Milwaukee Bucks have in future years?
By now you know that the answer is “not many.”
2026: They’ll get a first-round pick, but New Orleans has the right to swap picks for a more favorable position. This is also part of the 2020 Holiday trade. They do have a second-round pick from Utah (top-55 protected, though, so Utah still gets to keep its pick if the second-rounder is in the top 55).2027: No picks. The first-rounder belongs to the Pelicans (still the Holiday trade). The second-rounder went to Philadelphia in the Patrick Beverley trade.2028: They have a pick but Portland has the right to swap as part of the 2023 trade for Damian Lillard. The Bucks also added a second swap with Washington as part of the Middleton trade. If the Bucks are 20th, the Blazers 21st and the Wizards 22nd, the Blazers will swap to 20th, and then the Wizards will swap with the Bucks to take No. 21, leaving the Bucks at 22. So, if Portland and Washington are both worse than Milwaukee, the Bucks will keep their original pick. If one or both teams finish better, they’ll swap up. Milwaukee also doesn’t have a second-round pick, because that went to Brooklyn for Jae Crowder.2029: No picks. The first-round pick went to Portland in the Lillard deal, and the second-rounder went to Brooklyn in the Crowder deal.2030: They have a pick but Portland can swap again (still the Lillard deal). The second-rounder went to Orlando as part of a 2023 draft-day trade for Andre Jackson Jr.2031: Hey they have their original picks! For now.2032: They also have these picks! Own the future!So if the Bucks find themselves in the lottery next year …
Their pick is going to New Orleans unless the Pelicans’ pick is already higher.
Even if they get the No. 1 pick?
Yep, sorry.
Will we ever enjoy a draft again if we root for the Milwaukee Bucks?
The Bucks haven’t really used the draft as the primary tool to get better for quite some time. Denver superstar Nikola Jokić was drafted 41st overall, so never give up your dreams of finding a transcendent player in unusual parts of the draft. Plus, you can always follow the Wisconsin kids like Kon Knueppel.
Where is Kon Knueppel likely to get drafted?
The Wisconsin Lutheran High School alumnus is regarded as a pretty safe bet as a lottery selection, maybe as high as top-five in the 2025 NBA Draft. He’s already declared for the draft.
— Jim Owczarski contributed to this story.