The Bucks still aren’t planning on engaging teams on potential Giannis Antetokounmpo trades anytime soon, but Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report, echoing earlier reporting, confirms that they are looking for “perimeter defensive adjustments and reinforcements.”
As Fischer notes, Milwaukee’s trade options are limited as a team operating over the second apron. The team can’t package two or more player salaries for matching purposes or send out cash, for starters. According to Fischer, the Bucks are dangling their 2031 first-round pick as trade bait. They value that pick highly, as it would follow Antetokounmpo’s age-37 season.
MarJon Beauchamp was mentioned as a piece the Bucks were interested in moving in October. With his fourth-year option declined, Beauchamp is on the books for $2.7MM and is a free agent after the season. However, while packaging Beauchamp with that 2031 first-rounder seems like a decent offer for a role player, the Bucks couldn’t take back a player earning more than $2.7MM, significantly reducing their potential targets in that scenario.
Brook Lopez has been floated as a potential outgoing piece, but Fischer is skeptical the Bucks will look to move the big man, at least at this point. With Milwaukee trying to improve its defense, Lopez is someone the team might just be better off keeping to stay afloat on that end. Fischer – who reported in the offseason that Lopez was a possible trade candidate – said he hasn’t heard the veteran’s name come up much this season, for what it’s worth.
If the Bucks aren’t moving off either Damian Lillard or Khris Middleton, their only other potential trade pieces earning over $3MM are Bobby Portis ($12.6MM in 2024/25, player option for next season) and Pat Connaughton ($9.4MM in ’25/25, player option in ’25/26).
We have more sourced notes from Fischer:
- An extension for the Thunder‘s Alex Caruso seems to be on the horizon, according to Fischer. That’s always been the goal since Oklahoma City acquired the defensive-minded guard in exchange for Josh Giddey this past summer. Caurso, whose extension eligibility remains limited for now, will become eligible for a deal worth up to four years and roughly $81MM as of Dec. 21, six months from the date he was acquired by OKC.
- The Pelicans‘ injuries continue to pile up to an insurmountable level, but New Orleans’ isn’t giving the indication that it’s pressing the panic button on this current build, Fischer says. That means there’s been no serious talks on any potential Zion Williamson trade. Instead, Fischer says this situation gives Brandon Ingram a runway to build on his trade value. As we’ve previously relayed, Ingram and the Pelicans couldn’t bridge the gap on any potential extension talks during the offseason — Fischer hears that Ingram was asking for close to $40MM annually. The Pelicans explored possible trades involving Ingram but couldn’t find a suitable offer due to the fact that he’ll be an unrestricted free agent next summer and any team acquiring him would have to make a similar financial investment.
- The Spurs have won three of their last five games under interim head coach Mitch Johnson, with their two losses in that stretch coming by a combined six points. Fischer confirms that Johnson was a leading candidate to fill Washington’s head coaching role that ended up remaining with Brian Keefe, and says Johnson was also a strong candidate for the Hawks‘ head coaching role after they let go of Nate McMillan. Johnson, filling in for Gregg Popovich as he recovers from a mild stroke, is a name to watch on the coaching market whether he stays with the Spurs and succeeds Popovich down the line or ends up in another head coaching role, Fischer says.
What’s worrisome about the Bucks is that Giannis is playing an elite season, the maximum of what you could possibly expect from him. And they are still losing a lot of games. Normally with a start like that you would assume their superstar is injured.
They’ll make the playoffs because the East just isn’t good enough, But I don’t see a realistic way for the Bucks to become contenders again.
Giannis is stuffing the stat sheet while Middleton is injured (I’m wondering if he’ll ever play regular, productive minutes again), everyone has figured out how to attack their defense (target Lillard), Lopez is slowing down, PatC isn’t very good, they lack young talent (traded away so many picks, don’t play/trust others), and the minimum salary vets they were allowed to bring in because of the tax apron mess they got into aren’t helping either.
Bet the Bucks would love to have a do over on that Lillard trade.
They’ll never admit it. Still clinging to the fairy tale that Lillard’s offense trumps Holiday’s defense and role play on offense.
I would be real curious as to what the trade value of Zion really is. Who would line as a potential suitor to take on that contract, and how many picks would it take?
Only a team desperate to get fans in the door…
With the TV money, those teams are few and far between…
I can’t accept that any team would trade for Zion’s contract. His past can’t be ignored: significant injuries in all 6 NBA seasons, as well as in college and HS. It’s reasonable to expect him to miss 1/2 his games.
Plus, Zion now has a reputation for lacking the discipline and sacrifice required to minimize future injuries. His recovery periods invariably take longer than expected, and he returns out of shape. That further reduces the odds that another team might roll the dice on him.
At this stage, to become tradable, Zion must prove he can stay on the court, and that would take at least 1 full season, if not 2. The most likely scenario is that he’s stuck in NOLA for the 3 seasons left on his contract.