The Bucks are calling other teams to inquire about adding a wing in order to compensate for the loss of Khris Middleton, sources tell Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical (Twitter link). Middleton is expected to miss six months of action after tearing his hamstring.
If Middleton is ruled out for the year, the Bucks could apply for the disabled player exception, which would give them $5.6MM to use in free agency, Bobby Marks of the Vertical adds on Twitter. The team would need a roster spot open if awarded the exception and Marks notes (Twitter link) that the team has 15 guaranteed contracts on the books.
The injury to Middleton is a devastating blow to a team that is looking to drastically improve upon its 33-win campaign. The core of Middleton, Jabari Parker and Giannis Antetokounmpo was supposed to take the next step and elevate the team to contender status. Barring a substantial acquisition, Parker and Antetokounmpo, who recently signed a $100MM extension with the team, will likely be tasked with shouldering a bigger load on both ends of the floor.
Milwaukee signed Matthew Dellavedova and Jason Terry this offseason to bolster its bench unit, but it could be forced to insert one of the two into the starting lineup. Rashad Vaughn is also an internal candidate to see an increased role, but the sophomore didn’t have a particularly productive rookie campaign, so it may be a stretch to pencil him in for major minutes if the team intends on competing for a playoff birth.
Earlier today, we learned that Jabari Brown will join the Bucks for training camp. The team also signed J.J. O’Brien and Orlando Johnson earlier this month and while they all face uphill battles to make the team, opportunity awaits should a member of this trio excel during camp.
What should the Bucks do now that they will be forced to play much of the season without Khris Middleton? Take to the comments section below to share your thoughts and opinions. We look forward to what you have to say!
Trade Monroe for Buddy Hield. Monroe goes to where he wants and we get the wing we need.
How is that at all fair? You need more than “Player A gets to go where he wants to” and “my team gets the player we need”.
The deal would have to have additional pieces involved naturally, to balance out money. A deal with the Pelicans and Bucks was close before. Who would the bucks have acquired then?
The Pelicans would never do that.
There is literally 0 chance that happens.
Sign JR Smith or Ray Allen to a 1 year deal?
I like Ray Allen stepping in, Could he give you 15-20 minutes a game? Bucks could use it
I c the bucks making a small trade like McDaniels with the rockets are Robert with Phillips are Simmons with the spurs
The Bucks will get whatever Monroe brings in a trade. I don’t expect much. This is the Bucks luck.
Not even a question. Sign Ray Allen. Playoff team. Shut down middleton.
Trade Monroe for Tyreke Evans
Tyreke would be an interesting fit.
How about Monroe to the Mavs for Harris and Powell once he is eligible to be traded. Gives Dallas a legit third big. Milwaukee gets depth.
Should have never traded Patrick McCaw away. Atleast they would had another young talented guard to throw in the mix.
Agreed.
Signing Ray Allen would be nice. Maybe buy low on McLemore, Stauskas, or Hollis Thompson?
Sac-Town has been tryna get rid of McLemore for awhile too, would be a smart move!
I like the thought of Mclemore
I like the idea of making a deal for McDaniels. Losing his offense (more specifically his 3-Point shooting) is a blow but in my opinion, Middleton’s absence will be felt even more on the defensive end. K.J. is a guy you can put on the opposing teams best backcourt scorer every night, similar to Khris… and there is some 3 and D, two-way upside / potential in him as well.
I don’t have any names to throw out there, but the Bucks must make a trade.
Ray Allen isn’t the answer. They signed JET and Novack to the role of aging, spot-up-3-point shooting vets.
The Bucks lost their leading scorer who plays 36 mpg and has the ball in his hands for almost every crunch time decision/shot. If they don’t try to replace him with a similar style player (3 & D guy who can potentially log 30mpg) they’ll have to seriously re-think roles and rotations which will alter the development of Giannis and Jabari. And that cannot happen.
I just hope they don’t do something knee-jerk like trade their ’17 1st Rounder for a stop-gap player. They gotta trade from their C depth.
Rent Rudy gay
Definitely do NOT give up a future 1st round pick! Not ready yet to compete with Cavs, so use young players and whatever Monroe might fetch. Don’t panic. Still have Brogdon, the Jet, and Vaughn.
I agree with you Janusek.
I wonder if there’s a bad contract to take back along with a wing player…for Monroe or Henson.
76ers Covington to Bucks for 1st round pick
Monroe should definitely go. Not the type of center that fits with the Bucks. But Brogdon is there and he is a smart guy and looks like a great teammate and can fill a role. But not a starting role. More of a 6-7th man role. There’s many guys who aren’t going to make teams that could help. Jeremi Grant is on a non guarenteed contract, etc.