As the Milwaukee Bucks gear up for another critical offseason, their draft capital is under close scrutiny. It’s a bare cupboard thanks to their goal of building a championship-caliber team around Giannis Antetokounmpo before the clock strikes midnight on his prime.

That leaves Milwaukee with very few options when it comes to upgrade their roser—an important task following a second-straight premature playoff exit in the first round. Here’s a comprehensive look at the current status of the Bucks’ draft picks, the ones they’ve traded away, and the options they have moving forward.

Inventory of Draft Picks

Picks the Bucks Currently Own:

• 2024 First-Round Pick: The Bucks own the 23rd selection in the 2024 NBA Draft. They were initially awarded the 21st pick, but the New Orleans Pelicans held a swap.
• 2024 Second-Round Pick: The Bucks own the 33rd selection in the 2024 NBA Draft.
• 2026 First-Round Pick: Milwaukee retains this pick, although it is subject to a potential pick swap with the New Orleans Pelicans.
• 2028 First-Round Pick: The Portland Trail Blazers hold the right to swap picks with the Bucks.
• 2030 First-Round Pick: Similar to 2028, the Trail Blazers have the right to swap picks.
• 2031 First-Round Pick: Available to trade starting the night of the 2024 draft.
• 2031 Second-Round Pick: This pick is also available for trade or use.

Traded Away Draft Picks

The Bucks have traded away several picks in recent years as they’ve pushed for championship contention. Here’s a detailed look at those transactions:

• 2025 First-Round Pick: This pick is conditionally owed to New Orleans (if it falls within the 1-4 range) or New York (if it falls within the 5-30 range).
• 2027 First-Round Pick: This pick is fully unprotected and owed to the New Orleans Pelicans.
• 2029 First-Round Pick: This pick is unprotected and committed to the Portland Trail Blazers.

General Options with Draft Picks

Given the limited and conditional nature of their draft assets, the Bucks’ front office needs to be strategic. Here are some potential options they can explore:

1. Using Existing Picks for Long-Term Roster-Building

The Bucks could keep their 23rd and 33rd overall selections to add more young players to their roster. This would give them cheaper alternatives than trading for a veteran who has already signed a lucrative contract. This would also give them a lottery-ticket to develop players who could become stable parts of the franchise.

2. Utilizing Picks in Draft-Day Trades

On draft night, the Bucks can leverage their picks to move up or acquire additional assets. This can include:

• Moving Up in the Draft: Packaging their 2024 first-round pick with a player or another pick to move higher in the draft and select a promising young talent.
• Trade for a Veteran: Combining their 23rd overall pick, 33rd overall selection, 2031 first and/or 2031 second in any combination with a current player to upgrade the roster.

3. Strategic Pick Swaps

Considering the numerous pick swaps with New Orleans and Portland, the Bucks can:

• Negotiate Pick Swaps: Engage in discussions with the Pelicans and Blazers to navigate around the swaps, potentially offering other assets to retain certain picks. This would give them more flexibility about which picks they can trade this offseason.

The Bucks have a nuanced draft pick situation. While they’ve traded away significant future assets to build a championship-contending roster, they still hold a couple of valuable picks. The key for the Bucks is to leverage their existing picks to enhance their roster while navigating the complexities of their traded and swapped picks.

As the offseason unfolds, the Bucks’ front office faces the challenge of balancing immediate roster improvements with the preservation of future flexibility. The decisions made regarding their draft picks will be pivotal in maintaining their competitive edge and maximizing the prime years of Giannis Antetokounmpo. Whether they opt for immediate trades or strategic draft maneuvers, the Bucks’ draft strategy will play a crucial role in shaping their pursuit of sustained success.

A sheriff’s deputy sergeant is on administrative duty after unintentionally firing his weapon into the ground while attempting to draw his weapon on a person with a gun, the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office said.

The incident began Thursday night at Sherman Park on Milwaukee’s north side, after Milwaukee police transferred a caller to the sheriff’s office shortly after 7:30 p.m. to report a fight happening at the park, according to the sheriff’s office.

The sheriff’s office said “additional information” led to the department focusing on three males, two of whom were reportedly armed with firearms.

As sheriff’s deputies approached the scene, the three males fled on foot, according to the sheriff’s office. Two males were caught and the third male was discovered in a resident’s yard after the resident notified authorities, the sheriff’s office said.

A sheriff’s deputy approached the male and as he drew his weapon, he unintentionally fired his weapon into the ground near his foot, according to the sheriff’s office. Nobody was injured.

The sheriff’s office said the deputy sergeant has been with the department for more than six years. The sheriff’s office will conduct an internal investigation.

MILWAUKEE – A Milwaukee south side barbershop recently caught fire. Now, employees are back at work, dealing with the aftermath.

“We were working and all of a sudden we see smoke coming out,” said Joel Quintanilla, with the La Tijera salon. “We got scared. We were the only two barbers here and  we all just ran out.”

The fire happened on Wednesday, May 22.

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They are cleaning up damage while still cutting hair, even without electricity.

The Milwaukee Fire Department said no one was hurt, and the Milwaukee Police Department said the fire is still under investigation.

But it isn’t the first fire in the neighborhood near 13th and Cleveland. Just down the road, about a month and a half ago, the owner’s other location also caught on fire and left with severe damages.

MPD said the cause of that fire is undetermined.

Milwaukee Fire Battalion Chief Thomas Sells said preparation is key in these incidents.

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“Every business by law is required to have an emergency action plan or evacuation action plan not only for their employees but also for people that may be in the business,” Sells said.

He also said businesses need to have working smoke detectors, schedule routine maintenance for their equipment and have clearly marked exit signs.

“Thank God no one got hurt and it didn’t reach extremes,” Quintanilla said.