The Milwaukee Bucks have surfaced in a trade concept that would send help to Stephen Curry and reshape both rosters in the process.
Bleacher Report’s Grant Hughes floated a deal built around Golden State trying to bolster its offense around the 38-year old Curry, while Milwaukee would continue stacking future assets. In Hughes’ proposal, the Bucks would receive Jimmy Butler, Brandin Podziemski, Moses Moody, Will Richard, a 2027 first-round pick that is top-4 protected, and a 2031 first-round pick.
Golden State would get Tyler Herro, Myles Turner, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Kevin Porter Jr.
For the Warriors, Hughes said the attraction is obvious. He wrote, "The main appeal is clear: Butler and Moody are coming off injuries and highly unlikely to make an impact until it's too late.
From a 2026-27 standpoint, the Warriors are getting four useful players in exchange for Butler and the equivalent of half a rotation player. For an offense that lacks capable shot-creators other than Curry, Herro and Porter Jr. would represent massive upgrades."
Hughes also pointed to Turner as a needed addition at center, and argued Golden State could part with Podziemski, Moody and Richard because the team badly needs the scoring and creation Herro, Jaquez Jr. and Porter Jr. would bring.
On Milwaukee’s side, Hughes framed the deal as a way to build out the return for Giannis Antetokounmpo. He wrote, "This trade effectively ups the return for Giannis Antetokounmpo by adding two more valuable first-round assets to the four Milwaukee acquired from Miami.
Now that the two-time MVP is gone, Turner is a little out of place. Herro is on an expiring deal the Bucks may not want to extend at market rates, while Podziemski could provide equally valuable production at a lower salary.
Meanwhile, Richard nearly made an All-Rookie team last year and ticks the "young and cheap" boxes that matter to Milwaukee."
Hughes also noted that Butler’s contract could be a complication, but the salary coming back in Herro, Jaquez Jr. and Porter Jr. is around $44 million, and the extra $12 million tied to Butler might be something Milwaukee is willing to absorb. He added that the Bucks could always move Butler again in a separate deal if they wanted to chase more pieces.
Even so, the price may not be high enough from Milwaukee’s point of view. The proposed package sends out Herro, Turner, Jaquez Jr. and Porter Jr. for a 36-year old Butler coming off a torn ACL on an expiring contract worth $56.8 million, Moody while recovering from a torn left patellar tendon, and two younger players in Podziemski and Richard, plus two first-round picks.
The argument from Milwaukee’s side is that the Bucks should probably demand more, and at least one more first-round pick feels like the kind of ask they ought to make. Golden State is clearly trying to do whatever it can to give Curry a real shot at another title, and if the Warriors are serious about landing that group from Milwaukee, then the Bucks have every reason to press for the strongest possible return.
Herro in particular gives Milwaukee another possible chip to work with. The Bucks do not have many players considered untouchable, and while Herro is still only 26, he could be flipped for more help if Milwaukee chooses that route.
Milwaukee still wants to stay competitive, but the team has already been viewed as one of the worst in the league. If the season starts poorly and the Bucks appear headed nowhere, while Golden State remains desperate to improve around Curry, a move that sets Milwaukee up better for the future could make sense.
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