The Bucks are in a strange spot. Their season is essentially over. The rumors are that the front office is trying to tank to improve their pick by shutting down Giannis Antetokounmpo. It appears Giannis has other ideas by playing through his injury.  They have lost 7 of their last 10 games so it may not matter either way.

Giannis wants to build a winner but the only viable pieces on the roster are Ryan Rollins, Kevin Porter Jr, and AJ Green. Porter is as unreliable as they come on the court and even more so off the court. Kyle Kuzma is not a winning basketball player. Bobby Portis is at the end of his career and Myles Turner’s best years are behind him as well.

The Bucks only have one draft pick in this loaded 2026 class. They currently have a 13.9% chance to win the lottery and get a top 4 pick. If that doesn’t happen, they are currently sitting in the 10th spot in the draft order. The final four are right around the corner. This mock draft will be from the final four teams only. I will give you three options at pick 10 that could help Milwaukee keep Giannis.

NBPA rips Bucks’ plan to sit Giannis Antetokounmpo for the rest of the season despite him wanting to playhttps://t.co/agVfStvwvd

— Kurt Helin (@basketballtalk) March 25, 2026Option 1

Keaton Wagler | 6’6”| 185lbs | Freshman

The combo guard has excelled at point guard at Illinois. This shocked the Nation even though he was a national champion in high school. When you first see Wagler he appears slow and his ball handling needs a lot of work. However, what he lacks he makes up for with basketball IQ, feel for the game and outstanding footwork. It helps also that he shoots 40.7% from deep on 5.8 attempts per game. Range is not an issue for Wagler. He can let it fly from everywhere on the court.

He has a tremendous feel in the pick and roll. He averages 4.3 assist per game. He is very unselfish. He is willing to go off ball when asked.

 He isn’t a great cutter and his lack of strength will be an issue at the next level. His defense leaves a lot to be desired because of the lack of lateral foot speed. He also lacks functional strength in defensive situations.

Option 2

Yaxel Lendeborg | 6’9” | 235 lbs | Senior

Yaxel could end up being one of the biggest steals in this draft class. The Bucks would be getting a true Swiss Army knife to pair alongside Giannis, giving them a versatile frontcourt piece that can impact the game in multiple ways.

Lendeborg’s 7’4” wingspan allows him to be effective inside, where he can score in the post and finish over defenders. He averages 15.2 points per game with a 52% effective field goal percentage, showing strong efficiency. What really elevates his profile is his ability to step out and play on the perimeter. He handles the ball comfortably for his size and shoots 37.2% from three. Since arriving at Michigan, he has clearly put in the work to develop his jumper, and the improvement is showing up in games.

On the defensive side, Lendeborg offers real flexibility. He can guard multiple positions and fit into a variety of lineup combinations. His production is well-rounded, averaging 7.0 rebounds, 1.3 blocks, and 1.2 steals per game, making him a consistent presence across the stat sheet.

As an older prospect, Lendeborg brings a level of maturity and readiness that should translate early. He projects as a player who can step in right away and contribute without needing significant development time.

Option 3

Morez Johnson Jr |6’9 | 250lbs | Sophomore

The Bucks add a versatile, defense-first forward in Morez Johnson Jr., who fits their identity perfectly. Johnson is a freakish athlete with the ability to switch across multiple positions, giving him immediate value on the defensive end. He anchors lineups with physicality, effort, and mobility, making him one of the more impactful defenders in this class.

Offensively, he plays within himself and finishes efficiently, averaging 13.7 points per game while shooting an elite 64.3% from the field. He also contributes across the board with 7.4 rebounds, 1.1 blocks, and 0.7 steals per game. While he has shown flashes of perimeter touch, shooting 41.7% from three, it comes on very low volume, leaving room for growth as a floor spacer at the next level. If that part of his game develops, Johnson has the tools to become a highly valuable two-way forward in the NBA.

The Bucks likely would trade down in this situation to get him and gather more draft capital to build for the future. This would make Giannis happy if they don’t believe in any of the guys still on the board.

The Bucks have an uphill battle to maintain relevancy in the East. Which move do you the fan think is the right one? Take the best player available or trade down and get a player that can help right away while securing assets to build for the future? Let me know on social media.

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