The Milwaukee Bucks are staring at an awkward roster picture, and that has pushed them toward the trade market in search of a cleaner fit.
After parting ways with Giannis Antetokounmpo this summer, Milwaukee is trying to climb back into the mix in a difficult Eastern Conference. That makes the margin for error thin.
The Bucks are leaning on players to grow into bigger roles, but the roster as currently constructed may not have enough firepower. Tyler Herro is the closest thing Milwaukee has to a franchise centerpiece right now, and even that leaves plenty of questions.
One proposal would send Myles Turner, Kyle Kuzma and Kevin Porter Jr. to the New Orleans Pelicans for Zion Williamson, Jeremiah Fears, Karlo Matkovic and draft compensation. On paper, that kind of deal would give Milwaukee a real jolt in the frontcourt. Williamson is still viewed as an All-Star caliber upgrade there, and the idea is that he could become the kind of centerpiece the Bucks need.
That said, the gamble is obvious. Williamson averaged 21.0 points and 5.7 rebounds in 62 games after an injury-plagued season, and the risk comes with him. Still, there is enough recent optimism around the two-time All-Star to at least make the thought exercise worth considering.
The bigger issue for Milwaukee may be simple asset quality. The players most often tied to trade chatter haven’t exactly boosted their stock.
Kevin Porter Jr. and Caris LeVert have struggled in preseason, though Porter is seen as the more valuable of the two. Kyle Kuzma, Jericho Sims and AJ Green have also come up in trade discussion, but it’s not clear any of them would bring back an immediate difference-maker.
Sims was specifically linked to the Lakers in a deal for Dalton Knecht, and that kind of move would give Milwaukee more youth and potentially more scoring. Knecht showed promise in his first season with the Lakers, averaging nine points per game on roughly 38% from three. For the Bucks, he would add depth at forward and a possible long-term piece if they can unlock more from his game.
There’s also a sense that some of Milwaukee’s current pieces should not be sitting on the roster deep into the season if the goal is to free up minutes for younger players. Turner is harder to move because of the years left on his contract, while Kuzma looks like a more movable piece. Tyler Herro is another name the Bucks should be looking to move if they do not plan to extend him, though that may require patience so he can prove he can stay reasonably healthy enough to interest a contender.
Porter’s baggage makes him a tough sell for meaningful value. That leaves AJ Green as the cleanest trade chip.
His selling point is obvious: shooting, the one skill just about every team wants. He is on an affordable $11.25 million per year through 2030, and if Milwaukee can get back an expiring contract and a second-round pick, that would count as a win.
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Tyrese Haliburtons Fiery Bucks Exchange Looks Even More Personal Now
A preseason game between the Pacers and Bucks on Oct. 15 had a little more edge than most tune-ups, with Tyrese Haliburton and Ryan Rollins getting into a heated verbal exchange after a hard foul. Haliburton was hit with a technical foul in the moment, and the back-and-forth lingered enough to draw attention beyond the floor once a lip reader broke down what was said on social media.
It was the kind of exchange that can stick in the memory long after the box score fades, especially in a game Milwaukee edged 128-127 in overtime. Haliburton finished with 17 points and six assists, Rollins had eight points and five assists, and neither was on the court for the extra period, but the tension between them made this one feel a little more personal than a typical preseason meeting. [Read more 🡒]