The large news successful nan NBA past nighttime did not revolve astir a game, but astir an wounded to 1 of nan league's champion players. After nan Bucks' nonaccomplishment to nan Nuggets past night, it was announced that Milwaukee prima Giannis Antetokounmpo was going to beryllium retired 4-6 pinch a correct calf strain. The Bucks are 18-26 correct now and successful 11th spot successful nan Eastern Conference. The splits pinch Antetokounmpo connected and disconnected nan tribunal are really stark, and pinch him now retired for astatine slightest 4 weeks, nan play successful Milwaukee mightiness conscionable beryllium teetering connected being much of a disaster than it already was.
Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo tells media postgame coming he has a correct calf strain and expects to miss 4 to 6 weeks. MRI connected Saturday.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 24, 2026That is wherever nan Hawks travel in.
Hawks Could Benefit
Back successful nan summer, nan Hawks and nan Pelicans made a waste and acquisition that you mightiness person heard about.
When nan Pelicans traded up to nan No. 13 prime successful nan 2025 draft, they sent nan Hawks an unprotected prime successful nan 2026 draught that is nan astir favorable of nan Pelicans and nan Bucks. As it turns out, nan Pelicans person nan 2nd champion likelihood to triumph nan draught lottery successful May and correct now, Milwaukee has nan 8th champion odds.
If nan draught lottery were today, nan Hawks would person very favorable likelihood to person a top-three prime and a bully changeable astatine landing nan No. 1 wide prime successful what is expected to beryllium a very loaded draught astatine nan apical pinch Kansas defender Darryn Peterson, BYU guardant AJ Dybantsa, and Duke guardant Cameron Boozer astatine nan apical of nan draught board.
If nan trends pinch Antetokounmpo clasp up, nan Bucks are going to beryllium successful for a very reliable fewer weeks without him. Couple that pinch nan Pelicans being disappointing and improbable to amended by a important separator this season, Atlanta is looking astatine nan chance of landing a franchise altering draught pick.
If nan Hawks tin onshore a apical 3 prime successful this draft, they person a chance to adhd an elite talent and successful nan latest Mock Draft from Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman, he has nan Hawks selecting Kansas defender Darryn Peterson pinch nan No. 1 wide prime and Duke halfway Patrick Ngongba II pinch nan No. 16 wide pick:
1. Atlanta Hawks (via Pelicans): Darryn Peterson (Kansas)
Position: SG | Size: 6'6", 205 lbs | Age: 18
Pro Comp: Anthony Edwards
"The Darryn Peterson "No. 1 wide favorite" communicative sewage stronger pursuing his 26 points connected 13 shots against Baylor.
It was a scoring masterclass, pinch Peterson showing his convincing fluidity creating drives and jumpers, improvising wrong nan arc, hitting reliable shots and generating bully looks pinch activity from disconnected nan ball.
Now up to 200 points successful conscionable 241 minutes while shooting 50.4 percent from nan floor, 40.6 percent from 3 and 83.3 percent from nan line, his ratio has been ridiculous for a high-usage subordinate who's been forced successful and retired of nan lineup owed to a limb injury.
A soft slasher, precocious successful nan mid-range (51.9 percent) and high-volume three-point shooter, Peterson has looked for illustration 1 of nan astir complete scoring defender prospects of nan modern era."
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