Bucks land Darryn Peterson in mock draft and that sure could change things fast

The Bucks are in a strange place, and that is putting it mildly.

They played well heading into the All-Star break. They are getting healthier. They still have Giannis Antetokounmpo. And yet, the future feels like it could swing hard in either direction depending on a few ping-pong balls.

In a recent mock draft, Ricky O’Donnell of SB Nation had Milwaukee landing Darryn Peterson with the No. 2 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. That is the kind of outcome that changes timelines in a hurry.

“Milwaukee was the big winner of our lottery simulation,” O’Donnell wrote, calling it a league-changing result that would give Antetokounmpo a real runway again.

Peterson’s freshman season at Kansas has been uneven, though not for lack of talent. Injuries have gotten in the way, including a hamstring issue and cramping problems, but the scoring efficiency has still jumped off the page.

O’Donnell pointed to 43.5 points per 100 possessions on 62 percent true shooting, numbers that hint at something bigger once the body fully cooperates.

There is also some local flavor here. Peterson began his high school career at Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy outside of Akron, before his path took him onto the national stage.

If the Bucks somehow land him, they would suddenly have a potential star guard to grow alongside Giannis, plus a solid young piece in Ryan Rollins.

Right now, it is just a mock. But for a team stuck between now and next, luck might be the cleanest solution.