Giannis Antetokounmpo faces an uncertain future with the Milwaukee Bucks. Anyone who follows the NBA is well aware of that.
Antetokounmpo was the subject of incessant trade speculation leading up to the deadline in February, and by not trading him, the Bucks simply kicked the can down the road.
The possibility of Antetokounmpo getting moved over the offseason is real, and if that happens, the Bucks will need to press the restart button. That could start with the 2026 NBA Draft.
Bucks Select Michigan Forward Yaxel Lendeborg in First Round of 2026 NBA Mock Draft
GettyCHICAGO, ILLINOIS – MARCH 14: Yaxel Lendeborg #23 of the Michigan Wolverines dribbles up the court against the Wisconsin Badgers in the first half during the semifinals of the 2026 Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament at the United Center on March 14, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
While no one will replace Antetokounmpo in the hearts and minds of Bucks fans, University of Michigan forward Yaxel Lendeborg is a player who could potentially replace some of his on-court production.
Kevin O’Connor of Yahoo Sports has the Bucks selecting Lendeborg with the No. 11 overall pick in a recent mock draft.
“He fills the stat sheet with points, boards and everything else, he can play multiple positions, and he has a 7-foot-4 wingspan at 240 pounds with a genuine handle. Lendeborg got better every year as a 3-point shooter in college and ended up making 37.2% on 4.5 per game as a senior,” O’Connor wrote.
“The heart he showed playing through injury to help lead Michigan to a national championship cannot be understated. Whether or not Giannis is in Milwaukee’s future plans, Lendeborg would offer a path forward.”
Like Antetokounmpo, Lendeborg is an intriguing athlete, and also like Antetokounmpo, he has the tendency to fill out the box score. He averaged 15.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists 1.2 blocks and 1.1 steals per game for Michigan last season. He was named a Consensus first-team All-American and Big Ten Player of the Year as a result of his productive play. He’s not Antetokounmpo, but he would be an extremely intriguing addition for Milwaukee.
Bucks Have Two Offseason Options Regarding Giannis Antetokounmpo
When it comes to Antetokounmpo’s future in Milwaukee, the Bucks have just two options. They could either trade him over the offseason, or sign him to an extension. He has one year remaining on his current contract, and the Bucks won’t want him playing on an expiring deal. Bucks controlling owner Wes Edens acknowledged as much last month.
“Giannis is going into the last year [of his contract]. So one of two things will happen: Either he will be extended or he’ll be traded,” Edens said.
“The likelihood you’ll let him just kind of play out the last year, we can’t afford that. It’s not consistent with what’s good for the organization. That’s not a Giannis issue. That’s any player that’s in their last year.”
What the Bucks ultimately decided to do with Antetokounmpo is probably the biggest looming question in the entire NBA heading into the offseason.
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