Bucks predicted to draft Bam Adebayo regen to help Giannis Antetokounmpo originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is staying — for now.
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Now, the Milwaukee Bucks have to put championship-caliber pieces around him, lest there be more speculation about the two-time MVP’s state of mind.
MORE:Â Lakers get optimistic Giannis Antetokounmpo trade news
A new 2026 NBA mock draft on Bleacher Report has the Bucks picking firmly in the lottery. Milwaukee is on track to miss the postseason for the first time in 10 years; the Bucks are 23-30, 1.5 games behind the 10-seed Atlanta Hawks, but they refused to trade Antetokounmpo despite a wave of rumors earlier this month.
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Bleacher Report projects the Bucks to pick 10th overall, where Jonathan Wasserman predicts that Milwaukee will select Kentucky forward Jayden Quaintance.
Wasserman compares Quaintance to the Miami Heat‘s All-Star big man Bam Adebayo. The 6’10” Quaintance, a transfer from Arizona State, is described as “an outstanding defensive prospect due to his frame, length and shot-blocking rate.”
However, Quaintance has played only four games this season due to persistent knee problems, and his offensive game is described as having “some long-term scoring potential.”
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Quaintance might not be the surefire pick that would get Antetokounmpo back on board and fully committed to staying in Milwaukee. But only time will tell.
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