The Milwaukee Bucks have been playing with fire this season, as they hope to convince franchise superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo to stay in town. Trade rumors have run rampant, but more recently, it has been reported that the Bucks are more inclined to make a trade to add talent, rather than sending Antetokounmpo out and beginning a full rebuild.
There are clear issues with the currently constructed roster in Milwaukee, and the Greek Freak himself knows that, recently saying that ‘half the team could be gone‘ if their struggles continue.
Well, if the Bucks are serious about keeping their star in town and happy, they’ll need to make a big trade that can immediately vault themselves back into title contention. It wouldn’t be the easiest thing to do, but with their assets and the players around the league that could be available, they could make a deal with a few other franchises that have also struggled to begin the season.
Any trade for the Bucks would likely include sending out Myles Turner, as the big offseason addition hasn’t necessarily performed at the same level he has previously in his career. Milwaukee needs a true point guard after losing Damian Lillard over the summer, and while they’d be forced to give up a lot for one, it might be enough to keep Antetokounmpo satisfied, at least for the time being.
Blockbuster Bucks Trade Pitch
Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report outlined a five-team trade idea that he described as one the Bucks ‘actually need to make.’ It would involve cutting ties with a ton of their rotational players and a first-rounder, but would re-schuffle the lineup and add much-needed talent to the roster.
Here’s what it would look like:
Milwaukee Bucks get: Darius Garland (from Cavaliers), Jarrett Allen (from Cavaliers), Thomas Bryant (from Cavaliers), Terance Mann (from Nets), $2.3 million trade exception (Cole Anthony), $2.3 million trade exception (Amir Coffey)
Cleveland Cavaliers get: Jonathan Kuminga (from Warriors), Bobby Portis (from Bucks), 2027 protected first-rounder (from Warriors), 2031 protected first-rounder (from Bucks), $14.5 million trade exception (Darius Garland), $6.6 million trade exception (Jarrett Allen), $2.3 million trade exception (Thomas Bryant)
Golden State Warriors get: Myles Turner (from Bucks), Day’Ron Sharpe (from Nets), $2.2 million trade exception (Trayce Jackson-Davis)
Indiana Pacers get: Trayce Jackson-Davis (from Warriors)
Brooklyn Nets get: Kyle Kuzma (from Bucks), Cole Anthony (from Bucks), Amir Coffey (from Bucks), Al Horford (from Warriors), Buddy Hield (from Warriors), 2027 Utah Jazz second-rounder (from Pacers), 2028 second-rounder (from Cavaliers), 2030 conditional second-rounder (from Warriors), $5 million (from Warriors), $3 million (from Cavaliers), $6.3 million trade exception (Day’Ron Sharpe)
All three of the title hopefuls in this trade pitch, the Bucks, Warriors, and Cavaliers, each move away from players that haven’t been cutting it this year, while adding pieces that would potentially help improve the areas in which they’ve struggled so far.
Why The Bucks Made This Trade
Milwaukee does this deal for a few reasons, but in simple terms, because they are desperate. Though Antetokounmpo just returned after nearly a month out with an injury, their 13-19 record isn’t cutting it in the Eastern Conference. Their current roster isn’t strong enough to win games on a nightly basis, and though they have a few rising stars, Antetokounmpo needs proven ones if they want to make up any ground in the standings.
“Using the premise that the Bucks’ front office has the mandate to do whatever it takes to keep Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee, Turner and the future first are the necessary sacrifices to shift the team’s direction,” Pincus wrote on the trade idea.
Yes, it would involve moving on from a decent chunk of their roster and salary cap, but a trade like this would bring in top-level talent both in the form of Garland and Allen. Milwaukee would get a proven point guard in Garland, along with a proven rim-protector and consistent rebounder in Allen, while getting off the more than $100 million they are set to owe Turner and Kuzma over the next few years.
“The Milwaukee backcourt of Ryan Rollins and Kevin Porter Jr. is bolstered with the addition of Garland, a two-time All-Star who has averaged 18.8 points and 6.7 assists over his seven-year career,” Pincus added. “Milwaukee [would have] three rotation centers alongside Antetokounmpo, plus wings (AJ Green, Gary Trent Jr., Gary Harris, Taurean Prince, Mann) and ball-handling guards (Garland, Rollins, Porter) to make a postseason push without entertaining the nuclear option of sending Antetokounmpo out in trade.”
Though risky, it’s hard to see the Bucks passing up on a deal that both adds talent and has the chance to keep their star in town.
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