Milwaukee Bucks general manager Jon Horst has vivid memories of slipping in the NBA Draft lottery. Back in 2008, he represented the franchise in the lottery room as the Bucks dropped to the No. 8 pick despite holding the seventh-best odds, after the Chicago Bulls jumped from ninth to the top spot to select Derrick Rose. Now, with the Bucks returning to the lottery for the first time in a decade, Horst chose to stay out of the room and sent vice president of basketball operations Dave Dean in his place.
Dean succeeded. While the Bucks didn’t defy the odds to land the second, third, or fourth pick, they avoided a drop and secured the No. 10 selection in the 2026 NBA Draft. “We’re really excited about this position in the draft,” Horst said. “We’ve studied this range thoroughly and will be well-prepared. It’s a deep class, and while a top pick would have been great, it’s fantastic not to slide down. We’re thrilled with the outcome.”
A top-10 pick in a strong draft offers a promising building block for the Bucks, but in Milwaukee, everything is tied to Giannis Antetokounmpo’s future. If Antetokounmpo remains with the team next season, the No. 10 pick could develop alongside one of the NBA’s elite players. However, that’s just one scenario.
In the final week of the season, Horst told reporters that trading Antetokounmpo remains a possibility this offseason, but the team could also move their first-round pick—along with two other first-rounders (2031 and 2033) eligible to be traded on draft night—to acquire veteran talent. This mirrors past moves like the trades for Jrue Holiday and Damian Lillard. On Sunday, Horst confirmed both paths are still viable. “Both options are very much alive for us,” Horst said. “We’ll explore and learn in the coming weeks what benefits the organization most. Regardless, it’s a great opportunity. This draft is genuinely strong, not just on paper. There are many chances to add someone who can help us compete and win together.”
With numerous directions to consider, this week in Chicago is crucial for Horst and the front office. Beyond meeting draft prospects and building connections, the gathering of the entire league allows Horst to engage with executives from every team, gathering insights to make the most informed decision on the franchise’s path. “It’s an exhausting but incredible period,” Horst said. “It’s like a convention for all NBA teams. This time of year, along with summer league, involves extensive offseason planning, talking to other teams, touching base with agents. It’s a 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. affair, but it’s awesome. We’ll learn a lot about our options and build from there, aiming for great offseason decisions over the next four or five weeks.”
Antetokounmpo’s future will undoubtedly dominate Horst’s work this week in Chicago.
