Milwaukee won’t have their first-round pick in the upcoming 2027 NBA draft, but honestly, that might be the luckiest break for the franchise in a minute. The 2027 draft class is widely considered one of the least-hyped groups in recent memory, especially at the very top. We’re not talking about typical high-upside players usually filling those lottery spots. Seriously, there might only be one legitimate “star bet” in the whole draft, a Kansas-signee named Tyran Stokes, and even he’s far from a sure thing.
The 2027 Draft: A Cloudy Outlook With a Silver Lining?
It’s tough out there for scouts looking at 2027. The overwhelming majority of these “top prospects” are currently projected as role players. Forget knowing the top three, four, or five picks before the cycle even kicks off; this year, it’s just not happening. ESPN’s Jeremy Woo summed it up in his early mock draft, stating the outlook is “still pretty cloudy.” He noted that basketball fans have been spoiled by the star power of the 2025 and 2026 classes, and NBA teams know next year’s class will be a challenge. Woo even compared the 2027 draft to 2024, a year without a true consensus No. 1 pick where teams were all over the board on valuing talent.
Funnily enough, there’s a weird twist with 2027’s “decent depth.” A bunch of prospects who could have jumped into this year’s draft and gone in the late first round decided to wait. Why? Two big reasons: NIL deals in college pay more than a late first-round pick, and with a weaker 2027 class, they’ve got a better shot at going higher if they declare next year. So, the draft’s projected weakness is actually making it marginally stronger over time. The Bucks do have two second-round picks in 2027 thanks to the Caris LeVert acquisition, which could yield some solid depth pieces, but missing out on a weak first round feels like dodging a bullet.
2028: Lottery Pick Potential Thanks to a Convoluted Swap
Here’s where it gets interesting, because missing 2027 means the Bucks *have* to have a first-round pick in 2028 due to the Stepien rule. This rule stops teams from trading away their own first-round draft picks in consecutive future drafts. Now, this 2028 pick has been traded around in some wild, convoluted three-way swap, ending up with the rights heading to the Portland Trail Blazers and the Washington Wizards.
But here’s the kicker: as long as Portland and Washington miss the playoffs in 2028, which is the expected outcome as we see things today, Milwaukee is set to land another lottery pick. And guess what? The 2028 draft class is actually looking much better than once thought! While the new flattened odds could either help or hurt the Bucks, the potential for a high-value lottery pick in a significantly improved draft class is a massive swing. Keep an eye on those standings for Portland and Washington; Milwaukee’s future could depend on it.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Brew Hoop.
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