Could this grizzled vet be a difference-maker in Milwaukee?
With less than two weeks until the NBA trade deadline, rumours are starting to fly all over the league. At Brew Hoop, we’ve gone through Toumani Camara, Robert Williams III, Trey Lyles, and Kevon Looney as potential Bucks suitors. Now, we look at a seasoned EuroLeague stalwart who has likely played his way into league-wide demand.
The Player
Guerschon Yabusele, 6’8”, 265 lb. big man
Season averages: 10.4 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 1.9 APG, 0.7 SPG, 0.4 BPG, .512/.409/.684
After being drafted by Boston in 2016 and spending two years with the Celtics before beginning a long and successful overseas career, Guerschon Yabusele returned to the NBA this season following a stellar Olympic campaign for France. Yabusele has been one of the lone bright spots for the Philadelphia 76ers this season, and his numbers are way up across the board this year compared to his first stint in the association.
Guerschon has been, without a doubt, one of the top minimum signings this season. His ability to fit seamlessly into the NBA style of play—and even be additive to that with his veteran moxie—has undoubtedly annoyed many general managers that they didn’t win that recruiting battle. Anyhow, with the 76ers’ season going as poorly as it is, they could be motivated to get an asset or two for Yabusele before he becomes a free agent. Rival teams may view Guerschon so highly that they will attempt to sign him into various exceptions in the offseason. Ergo, with a specific need for Yabusele’s services, the Bucks would be wise to sniff around at the deadline and plan for a longer-term deal while they’re at it.
The Trade
So, the deal we came up with was a three-teamer. Essentially, the Bucks need second-round picks to send to Philly, which they don’t have except for their ’31 second (which is probably too valuable for this). Thus, the Bucks would make a similar deal to the theoretical Trey Lyles transaction we published last week but then re-route those Kings seconds to Philly to acquire Guerschon. They would have to take Lyles off the Kings’ hands, which would mean waiving someone to make space. And yes, if Milwaukee gets Yabusele, there is no real need for Lyles, but he must be included to make the money work.
For the Kings and Sixers, it’s simple. Sacramento gets their guy in Bobby Portis and upgrades the backup big position. Philly gets two solid seconds and another fake second (very unlikely to convey) as compensation for Guerschon. I will mention that most backup big men have gone for two or three second-round picks in this trade period. It seems unlikely that the Bucks would have to include their ’31 second, but if the Sixers demanded it, there would be some internal debate. They may trade that pick but protect it.
The Fit
I love Yabusele’s fit in Milwaukee because it takes a specific sort of backup centre to play with Giannis. You need guys who can guard centres on defence but play power forward on offence. These are generally undersized ball-of-muscle stretch big men, your Grant Williams-types. And if you haven’t noticed, Guerschon’s got that heft, shall we say. He can guard an array of centres and power forwards while stretching the floor on the other end.
In Yabusele’s second and final year with the Celtics, he shot 0.7 threes per game at a 32% clip. This season, he’s shooting 3.9 per game at nearly 41% while averaging over 10 points and five rebounds. Another underrated part of Guerschon’s game is that he just knows how to play basketball after competing in the EuroLeague for so long. Makes quick decisions, sets good screens, understands angles, etc. He’s one of those guys stars love to play with.
The drawback in Yabusele’s game is relatively apparent: athleticism. Don’t get me wrong, he can throw down (just ask LeBron James), but he’s not some multi-dimensional, elite athlete. For example, although his rebounding, blocks, and steals are way higher than what they were in his first NBA go around, they’re not what you see out of the tall, athletic centres of the NBA. That said, you must consider what Guerschon is: a backup centre; you can’t have everything. In most cases with NBA role players, what you gain in playmaking, shooting, and savvy, you lose in athleticism and height—or vice versa. The dudes who have it all are, in most cases, starters in this league.
Regardless, Yabusele can be one heck of a role player who makes your stars better, and that’s all anyone needs him to be. So let us know how you feel about this deal. Is Guerschon being overrated? Is one good season causing people to get slightly over their skis? Or should the Bucks start a full-court press for the big fella?