The Atlanta Hawks already know how much one lucky lottery bounce can change everything. Two seasons ago, they jumped to No. 1 and used that pick on Zaccharie Risacher. That move reset the franchise’s timeline and identity. Now, another stealth asset could be lining up as their next big break: their ownership of the Bucks’ 2026 first-round pick.
The Underrated Asset Boosting Atlanta’s Draft Odds
Atlanta owns the best of New Orleans’ and Milwaukee’s 2026 first-rounders. That single draft slot comes with two very different storylines. On one side, the New Orleans Pelicans are spiraling again. They sit at 3-19 and last in the Western Conference after dropping 13 of their last 14 games. On the other, the Bucks just snapped a seven-game losing streak with a 116–99 win over the Brooklyn Nets on November 29. That skid briefly raised real questions about their season.
Right now, the Hawks’ Bucks 2026 pick is tracking toward New Orleans. Record-wise, the Pelicans look far more likely to land in the high-lottery range again. That outcome would already be a strong win for Atlanta. A bottom-three finish for New Orleans in 2025–26 would mean prime odds at another top selection heading the Hawks’ way. That upside assumes their “best-of” structure holds and protections don’t interfere.
What the Hawks Need from the Bucks
Still, the intriguing wrinkle is Milwaukee. Even after their win over Brooklyn, the Bucks’ recent slide showed how quickly a supposed contender can drift toward danger. They had fallen to 9-13 following a loss to the Knicks. That slide became their longest losing streak since Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s rookie season before they finally broke through against the Nets.
If things truly went off the rails in Milwaukee and they missed the playoffs, the Bucks’ 2026 pick changes entirely. It becomes a different kind of lottery ticket. In that scenario, there’s a non-zero chance the Bucks land near the top of the lottery. If that selection ends up being the better of the two, Atlanta could theoretically benefit from Milwaukee hitting No. 1 overall. It’s an extreme outcome, but Hawks fans don’t have to stretch too far to imagine it. After all, they’ve already lived the shock of seeing their own logo flip to the top of the board not long ago.
From Atlanta’s perspective, you’re rooting for two parallel outcomes at once. First, you want the Pelicans to keep struggling. Their record already has the 2026 pick leaning heavily in the Hawks’ direction. New Orleans’ combination of defensive issues, injuries, and coaching turmoil has them firmly in the mix for a bottom-tier finish yet again.
“I want to win. We’ve lost 7 in a row. I don’t remember the last time I lost 7 in a row.”
– Giannis
(
@MikeAScotto )
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) November 29, 2025
Bucks Volatility and Hawks’ Long-Term Leverage
Second, you quietly monitor Milwaukee. A stabilized Bucks team that finishes in the middle of the Eastern Conference doesn’t hurt Atlanta. The Pelicans’ pick would still likely be better, but it caps the ceiling of what this asset can be. A more chaotic outcome in Milwaukee could change that picture. If injuries linger or the locker room never fully finds its footing, the Hawks’ Bucks 2026 pick can jump into truly franchise-altering territory. If the Bucks slip out of the postseason picture and into full lottery range, every ping-pong ball in that drum suddenly matters to Atlanta, too.
There’s also a psychological angle. Knowing they hold the Bucks’ first-round pick, the Hawks’ front office can approach trades and long-term planning with a bit more confidence. Even if Milwaukee ultimately rights the ship and New Orleans remains the primary source of draft value, Atlanta is still likely staring at a high first-rounder. That pick would be attached to a team that has struggled badly for two straight seasons. That’s the kind of asset that lets you think bigger. You can pair another blue-chip prospect with Risacher, flip the pick for a proven star, or package it with other pieces to climb even higher on draft night.
Maybe the 2026 lottery plays out chalk and the pick lands somewhere in the mid-lottery. That outcome would still be another solid building block in the Risacher era. Or maybe, just like two seasons ago, the right combination of luck and timing hits again. In that case, Hawks fans are watching that card flip over, realizing the Bucks’ 2026 pick has just changed their future all over again.
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