The Milwaukee Bucks must make big decisions for their future ahead of the NBA trade deadline. Giannis Antetokounmpo is still out with an injury, and the season continues to get worse for Milwaukee. The Bucks currently hold a 11-17 record and sit 1.5 games out of the 10th seed for the play-in race.
Many reports have indicated that Antetokounmpo could be nearing a trade demand as the team looks impossible to contend anytime soon. However, NBA insider Chris Haynes reported the exact opposite during his talking segment for Sports on Prime:
“The Milwaukee Bucks are in desperate pursuit of trying to look out on the trade to see if they can bring in a difference-maker type of player. One of the guys I identified is Zach LaVine of the Sacramento Kings.
He is one player they have done their homework on. There haven’t been any concrete serious talks to this point but he is somebody on their radar. Giannis Antetokounmpo has applied pressure on the Bucks to make some moves.”
Haynes shared that Milwaukee hopes to be buyers at the deadline to improve the roster for Antetokounmpo to give them another chance. Zach LaVine was revealed as one name the Bucks have looked at as a realistic option.
Can The Bucks Win Over Giannis?
Milwaukee has done this multiple times in the past when they made a big move to keep Antetokounmpo happy. Jrue Holiday was the first major trade piece at a time when Giannis was close to wanting a new situation. The Bucks ended up winning the NBA Championship thanks to this addition.
Damian Lillard was the next trade target to give Milwaukee a higher ceiling of contention once Antetokounmpo became frustrated again. Injuries to both stars saw them never having a real playoff run as they got eliminated in the first round both seasons.
Myles Turner is the most recent name to get acquired by the Bucks to improve the roster and keep Giannis content. Another trade may be enough to last the rest of this season, but they are running out of assets all to appease Antetokounmpo. A trade could come either way once Giannis realizes his slim chances of true title contention.
Does Zach LaVine Improve The Bucks?
LaVine is a former two-time All-Star and an objectively great scorer. However, the Sacramento Kings have not improved at all with LaVine having a major role in the offense. Lackluster team success makes some NBA teams think twice about adding an elite scorer with few other traits.
Milwaukee will have to sacrifice some of their younger talents overachieving and put even more eggs in an already flimsy basket. LaVine does provide a strong second scorer for Antetokounmpo, but the much better Lillard couldn’t help Giannis dominate with other flaws across the roster.
The Bucks appear to be fearing the end of the Antetokounmpo era and are willing to do any “desperate” move to avoid it. LaVine is another short-term solution that can only raise their ceiling so high. Giannis may still request a trade at the end of the season, but this deal will make their situation even worse if that happens.
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