The Atlanta Hawks own the rights to the Milwaukee Bucks’ next two first round draft picks, which look as lucrative as ever amid Giannis Antetokounmpo’s latest trade speculation.
Atlanta first acquired the rights to a 2027 first round swap between Milwaukee and the New Orleans Pelicans during the Dyson Daniels trade. The Hawks will receive the less favorable of the two picks (unless both NOP and MIL land top-four picks, in which case NOP would retain both).
The franchise followed that trade with an even grander heist, prying the 2026 NOP/MIL pick swap that was believed to be an untouchable asset. In fact, the asset is so valuable that Atlanta thought they misheard Pelicans Senior Vice President Troy Weaver, asking for “clarification multiple times” before realizing New Orleans was truly offering such a valuable pick.
Antetokounmpo appears to be on the way out of Milwaukee. Although both the player and the franchise insist there is nothing brewing, insiders and analysts alike believe there is simply no reason for the two to remain partners. Giannis’s trade value is only going to decline, and with each passing season wasted in Milwaukee, he’s running out of time to add to his storied career.
The Hawks could benefit in a number of ways from a Giannis trade
If Giannis is moved, the pair of NOP/MIL swaps becomes infinitely more valuable. Atlanta could simply sit on its hands and wait for these picks to be conveyed.
While the 2026 pick technically has the third-highest lottery odds thanks to a miserable season from New Orleans, expect this to change. The Pels have no reason to tank, while the rest of their competition at the bottom of the standings do. I would expect this pick to either fall in the top four or the 7th-11th range, depending on how lucky Atlanta gets. If Milwaukee sinks to the bottom after trading Antetokounmpo, the odds of Atlanta landing a top pick only increases.
The 2027 pick is inherently less valuable, but it could still yield a franchise-altering player. There are too many variables to give a true prediction on what this pick will be, but my best guess would be that this pick ends up in the 6-8 range if the Bucks indeed trade Giannis.
But Atlanta can bypass the risk of this trade by instead opting to deal the pick. What if the Bucks, who desperately lack control of their own picks, are willing to move Ryan Rollins or Myles Turner for the 2027 pick? Suddenly, Atlanta would have converted Dejounte Murray into Dyson Daniels and another high-level starter. Not too shabby.
If Antetokounmpo is indeed on the move, Atlanta has several ways to capitalize. As Littlefinger, the hated, conniving character in Game of Thrones, famously said, “chaos is a ladder.” The Hawks are well-positioned to climb the ladder while other teams make desperate moves around them.