REPORT: Bucks Scouting Top Prospect Without a 2025 First-Round Pick—GM Moves Raise Eyebrows as Giannis Trade Rumors Resurface
Milwaukee, WI – In a surprising development that’s sent shockwaves through NBA circles, a new report claims the Milwaukee Bucks have been actively researching top draft prospects for the upcoming 2025 NBA Draft — despite not owning a single first-round pick.
According to Rafael Barlowe of ‘NBA Big Board’, the father of a potential lottery pick revealed that the Bucks have reached out to gather background information on his son, raising major questions about what the team is planning behind closed doors.
> “Milwaukee doesn’t have a pick in the first round, not even in the top 10,” the father said. “But they’re asking about my son and wanting to know a little bit more information. They’ve called, and I don’t understand why they have interest unless they plan on making a move.”
With no first-round pick in 2025 and no clear pathway into the lottery, this revelation has stirred intense speculation. Are the Bucks gearing up for a trade to move into the draft? And more pressingly: could this involve Giannis Antetokounmpo?
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The Mystery Deepens
The Bucks’ current draft capital situation is well documented. Due to multiple win-now trades over the past several seasons — including deals for Jrue Holiday, Damian Lillard, and others — the franchise finds itself without a first-round pick in 2025. Their next available first-round selection isn’t until 2031.
So why would the Bucks be sniffing around a lottery-caliber prospect?
Insiders suggest two possibilities:
1. They’re preparing to trade into the 2025 Draft, or
2. They’re doing due diligence for a larger, franchise-altering trade that could involve stars or picks coming in return.
Both possibilities hint at major front office activity brewing in Milwaukee, and neither rules out dramatic outcomes — including a potential Giannis Antetokounmpo trade scenario.
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Giannis Trade Talk: Far-Fetched or Foreshadowing?
Let’s be clear — there’s no confirmed report that the Bucks are shopping Giannis. The two-time MVP signed a contract extension last October and has consistently voiced commitment to building a championship culture in Milwaukee.
But commitment goes both ways.
Following the Bucks’ early playoff exit this spring and lingering chemistry issues between Lillard and the supporting cast, some NBA executives believe the franchise is at a crossroads. And with Antetokounmpo approaching his 30s, questions about long-term viability are fair.
“If Milwaukee is doing their homework on lottery guys this early, they’re either trying to get creative — or preparing for a bigger shift,” said one anonymous Eastern Conference executive. “It doesn’t mean Giannis is gone, but it means nothing is off the table.”
The idea of using Giannis to reset the franchise, secure a war chest of draft picks, and reload with youth has been quietly floated in league circles — especially if the current roster fails to contend in 2025.
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Front Office Smoke Signals
This isn’t the first time the Bucks have shown unorthodox behavior in roster-building strategy. The Damian Lillard trade came out of nowhere. The Holiday extension came without public leaks. GM Jon Horst has built a reputation for keeping things close to the vest — until it’s time to strike.
Calling a top prospect’s family may seem like a small move, but in today’s NBA, every call has meaning. These interactions don’t happen without intention.
“This is scouting season, but teams without picks usually aren’t deep-diving into lottery kids unless they’re working on something,” said NBA draft analyst Jonathan Wasserman. “The Bucks are being very quiet — that’s what makes it louder.”
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Could Milwaukee Trade into the Draft?
There’s also a more grounded possibility: the Bucks may be eyeing a trade into the back end of the lottery or late first round by packaging players and future assets. Veterans like Bobby Portis, Pat Connaughton, or Malik Beasley (sign-and-trade) could serve as trade chips to help facilitate a move.
Still, that doesn’t fully explain why they’d be researching top-10-level prospects — the kind of players only available to teams in full rebuilds or those flush with assets.
Could the Bucks be a third-party facilitator in a larger three-team deal? Could they be working with teams like Portland, San Antonio, or Utah, who have both picks and cap flexibility?
Anything is possible. But again, the level of interest in lottery talent raises more questions than answers.
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Fanbase in Flux
Reaction among Bucks fans has ranged from curiosity to outright panic on social media.
> “Why are we looking at lottery picks unless we’re giving up Giannis or Dame?” one user posted on Reddit’s r/MilwaukeeBucks thread.
“Don’t tell me this is the beginning of the end,” another fan wrote.
Still, some supporters view it as smart forward-thinking.
> “We’ve boxed ourselves into a veteran corner. Why not prepare for every possible scenario?” asked longtime Bucks fan Jason Munroe. “It doesn’t mean Giannis is gone. It means the front office is awake.”
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The Bigger Picture
Whether the Bucks are preparing to trade into the draft or simply evaluating potential targets for future deals, one thing is clear: they’re not standing still.
As the NBA offseason kicks into gear and draft night approaches, the Bucks may be plotting a move that redefines the franchise for the next decade — either by bringing in a top young prospect or recalibrating their entire roster approach.
For now, we’re left to read the tea leaves. But if Milwaukee’s secret scouting continues, the message might be loud and clear:
The Bucks are up to something.
And in today’s NBA, that usually means something big is about to happen.
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