ESPN Mock Draft Projects All 60 Picks, Slotting AJ Dybantsa at No. 1

Q: After acquiring a haul of young talent and picks for Giannis, are the Bucks truly rebuilding or just rapidly retooling?

The Bucks are rebuilding, even if they may try to stay functional in the short term. The clearest evidence is the structure of the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade itself. Milwaukee chose a package built around young players, cost-controlled talent and distant draft capital: Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis, the No. 13 pick, future unprotected first-rounders in 2031 and 2033, a 2030 swap and a second-rounder. That is the profile of a franchise prioritizing flexibility and long-term upside, not immediate contention. The reported alternative paths matter too. Milwaukee could have pursued a more win-now return centered on an established star, but instead accepted a broader asset haul. That suggests the front office valued optionality over trying to replace Giannis with another top-tier veteran and chase the middle of the playoff picture. There is some retooling logic inside the rebuild. Herro can score now, Jaquez can help immediately, and the Bucks are reportedly exploring moving up in this draft. Those are not tank-only moves. But they do not outweigh the larger signal: Milwaukee has moved off its franchise cornerstone, reset its timeline, and stocked future picks that may not fully pay off for years. So this looks less like a rapid retool and more like a hybrid rebuild: remain respectable if possible, develop the young core, and use the picks and cap flexibility to build the next contender rather than the next quick fix.

3 articles · Updated · ESPN · Jun 23

Hours before the 2026 NBA draft, ESPN’s latest 60-pick projection has Washington taking AJ Dybantsa at No. 1, with Utah landing Darryn Peterson at No. 2 and Memphis getting Cameron Boozer at No. 3.
The mock says Washington’s recent 4-year, $212 million commitment to Trae Young makes Dybantsa a cleaner fit than Peterson, whose long-term point guard ambitions could clash with Young’s role.
Trade activity is expected to accelerate after Milwaukee agreed late Monday to send Giannis Antetokounmpo to Miami in a package that includes the No. 13 pick; the Bucks are now rumored to be exploring a move up from Nos. 10 and 13.
The projection flags several swing spots after the top four, with the Clippers at No. 5, Nets at No. 6 and Hawks at No. 8 all viewed as potential trade-back or trade-up teams.
Round 2 projections include Washington taking Milos Uzan at No. 51 and Tyler Bilodeau at No. 60, underscoring how roster moves and late trades could still reshape the board before Tuesday’s first round.