The Atlanta Hawks are sitting on a gold mine - and the rest of the league knows it.
That 2026 first-round pick they snagged from New Orleans during last year’s draft? It’s not just a good asset - it might be the asset.
Thanks to swap rights, Atlanta gets whichever pick is better between the Pelicans and the Bucks. And with both teams trending in the wrong direction, that pick could land in the top five of what scouts are calling one of the most loaded draft classes in years.
So, what happens if Milwaukee decides it’s time to hit the reset button?
Let’s talk about Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Bucks superstar is currently sidelined, and the team’s been floundering without him.
At 18-26 and sitting 11th in the East, Milwaukee’s season is teetering - and that’s with Giannis on the roster. Without him, they’ve gone 3-11.
The math is simple: no Giannis, no wins.
Doc Rivers hasn’t offered a clear return date for the two-time MVP, but Giannis initially estimated he’d miss four to six weeks. That puts his return somewhere after the All-Star break - if he comes back at all this season. And if you’re Milwaukee’s front office, the question becomes: should he?
Because right now, the Bucks are staring down a fork in the road - and one of those paths leads straight through Atlanta.
Imagine this: Milwaukee trades Giannis to the Hawks. In return, they get back the Pelicans’ 2026 first-round pick, another future first, and Zacharie Risacher - the No. 1 overall pick in 2024. Toss in Kristaps Porzingis and Luke Kennard to make the salaries work, and suddenly you’ve got a full-on rebuild package with real upside.
Milwaukee would then control both their own and New Orleans' 2026 picks - and both could land in the top four. That’s the kind of draft capital that can reshape a franchise overnight.
Let’s put it in perspective. The Pelicans are currently dead last in the West at 12-36.
Only the Wizards and Pacers have better odds to land a top-five pick. If the season ended today, New Orleans couldn’t fall lower than seventh.
And they’re not tanking - they’re just that bad.
Meanwhile, the Bucks aren’t far behind. According to Tankathon, they already have a 23.1% chance at a top-four pick.
If they keep Giannis on the shelf and lean into the slide, those odds could climb fast. They’re only three wins ahead of Utah and could easily drop below Charlotte and Memphis in the standings.
That would push their top-four odds north of 80%.
And if the ping pong balls bounce their way? Milwaukee could walk away with two of the following names: Darryn Peterson, AJ Dybantsa, Cameron Boozer, Caleb Wilson. That’s not just a rebuild - that’s a fast track back to relevance.
Now, let’s be clear: trading Giannis would be a seismic move. But if the Bucks decide to go that route, Atlanta might be their best partner. The Hawks can offer a pick that’s already trending toward the top of the draft, a blue-chip prospect in Risacher, and the financial flexibility to make it all work.
From Atlanta’s side, this is the kind of swing that changes everything. Pairing Giannis with Trae Young gives them a superstar duo that instantly vaults them into the contender conversation - not just for this season, but for years to come. It’s a bold move, but with the East wide open and the Hawks stuck in the middle tier, it might be the jolt they need.
And here’s the twist: if Milwaukee makes the deal, the Pelicans pick goes to them, not Atlanta or anyone else. That could reshape the draft, the standings, and the long-term balance of power in the NBA.
The Bucks haven’t picked inside the top 10 since 2014. They’ve only done it twice since 2008.
General manager Jon Horst has never selected higher than 17th. But with two top-10 picks - or even two top-fours - it becomes a lot harder to miss.
That’s the kind of draft equity that can rebuild a roster in a hurry.
Milwaukee doesn’t have to plunge into a dark, uncertain rebuild. With the right moves - and a little lottery luck - they could be back in the mix sooner than anyone expects.
And it all starts with that one pick. The one Atlanta’s holding.
The one New Orleans is sinking toward. The one that could define the next era of NBA basketball.