Buoyed by the greatness of Giannis Antekounmpo, the Milwaukee Bucks are looking to surge up the Eastern Conference standings, going 6-1 in their last seven games.
Internal improvement has been key to their success, most notably in the form of the developing chemistry between Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard. Lillard has also been red-hot from beyond the arc, shooting 55.3 percent from deep in that stretch. Keep in mind that he made just 35.4 percent of his three-point attempts last season, the third-lowest mark of his career.
Now that they’re 23-17, fourth in the East, the tension surrounding the team isn’t as thick. Nonetheless, they’re just 3.0 games ahead of the eighth-place Detroit Pistons. With one bad stretch, they could go from a playoff team to a Play-In team. In order to avoid that, the Bucks may be considering making a blockbuster trade prior to the deadline (Feb. 6). Indeed, last week, rumors began circulating that Milwaukee is still a potential destination for Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler.
Are Bucks Eyeing Jimmy Butler Or Bradley Beal As Co-Star?
This week, The Stein Line’s Marc Stein suggests that the Bucks may make a move for Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal, who they coveted when he was playing for the Washington Wizards.
Such a trade would require the Bucks to get under the second apron, which they’re $6.5 million above, as Beal makes more than even Antetokounmpo. The simplest way to do so is to trade Pat Connaughton, a veteran wing owed $9.4 million this season. However, Connaughton doesn’t have much trade value, so trading substantially younger and cheaper players like AJ Johnson, MarJon Beauchamp, Chris Livingston, and Tyler Smith in a series of smaller deals may be more feasible.
Thus, if Milwaukee was to make an offer for Beal, it could be a straight-up transaction or part of a multi-team deal. In either case, the package they sent to the Suns would likely include longtime Bucks such as Khris Middleton and Bobby Portis, who’ll make $44.2 million combined this season.
Should Bucks Make The Trade?
Right now, Beal is better than Middleton, who has physically declined after recovering from myriad injuries. He’s long been better than Portis, an x-factor and exemplary sixth man, but not a reliable go-to option.
In a vacuum, it’s not a bad deal, just one with a lot of emotions attached. Both Middleton and Portis won a championship alongside Antetokounmpo in 2021. Nonetheless, as evidenced by their willingness to trade Jrue Holiday in order to acquire Lillard, the Bucks aren’t above shipping off a core member of their title team. Not if they believe it gives them a better chance of winning another ring.
With that in mind, it’s still possible that Milwaukee goes after Butler themselves. He’s capable of guarding 1-4 at a high level and has proven to be elite in the playoffs, leading the Heat to the NBA Finals multiple times. However, his volatile personality and the ugly situation brewing in Miami leads to chemistry concerns, which could cause them to back away.
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