The Milwaukee Bucks didn’t have a pick in the 2025 draft lottery. Yet, somehow, it seems like they won the lottery. Despite not having a pick, they may be able to choose among the top three picks of the draft and get one. That is the result of the 2025 NBA draft lottery.
The Milwaukee Bucks Won the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery
While the Bucks might not decide to trade for one of the top three picks, the reality is that the teams that got the first three picks were all serious contenders about trading for Giannis Antetokounmpo. Two of them, the Philadelphia 76ers and the Dallas Mavericks, were long shots before the draft. Now, armed with the No.1 and the No.3 pick, both can make compelling cases to the Bucks. The Spurs were already a serious contender for Giannis’ services before the draft. They now have the No.2 pick to offer as well. And all three teams are trying to win now, not rebuild. Which of these three teams can offer the best package? Let’s take a look.
Dallas Would Be Favorite to Land Giannis (If They Go That Route)
When Nico Harrison made the Luka Doncic trade, he talked about how defense wins championships and that the team is trying to win now. Well, drafting Cooper Flagg isn’t guaranteed them closer to a championship in the next three years. However, trading for Giannis certainly will.
The Mavs made a huge gamble with the Doncic trade. Their window for contending shrank. Much of their core is over 30 years old. Armed with the No.1 pick, they can now package Dereck Lively, Jaden Hardy, and some salary contracts to attempt to get the Greek Freak. All of that was not possible before the draft lottery.
San Antonio Spurs Get More Assets
The San Antonio Spurs already had plenty of juicy first-round picks to trade before landing the No.2 pick in the 2025 draft. San Antonio also has the 14th pick in this draft. They control the first-round pick of the Atlanta Hawks in the next two drafts as well. They also have the option to swap their pick with the Boston Celtics’ first-round pick in 2028 and Sacramento Kings’ first-round pick in 2031, and they can choose the most favorable between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Mavericks in 2030. On top of that, they have quality young players like Devin Vassell, Jeremy Sochan, Julian Champagnie, and more.
Will Philly Rebuild or Double Down on Winning?
The Philadelphia 76ers are an interesting case with the No.3 pick. They were also a dark horse candidate to trade for Antetokounmpo. They clearly tanked at the end of the season to get their pick, since it was top-six protected.
This summer, they have to make a big decision. Will they slowly rebuild around Tyrese Maxey, Jared McCain, and other young players? Or will they double down on Joel Embiid and Paul George? Those two are often injured players, and the No.3 pick gives them a chance to decide between the two scenarios. The No.3 pick, along with McCain, and players like Quentin Grimes (they need to re-sign him first) can be their offer for Giannis.
Third Team to Facilitate a Giannis Trade
The Milwaukee Bucks can literally pick between the top three teams in the draft lottery and call any of them. However, the challenge with that scenario is that if the Bucks are rebuilding, they also need to get some of their picks back.
As it stands right now, the Bucks do not control their first-round pick for the next five years. Three teams do: the Brooklyn Nets (2025), the New Orleans Pelicans (2026 and 2027), and the Portland Trail Blazers (2028, 2029, and 2030).
That will make the possibility of a Giannis trade to the top three teams in the draft a bit more challenging. Out of those three, only the San Antonio Spurs have more assets to make a deal with the Pelicans or Blazers to help the Bucks get some picks back.
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