Milwaukee Bucks: Two Trades That Could Help Them Now

With the trade deadline approaching could the Milwaukee Bucks make some moves that would help them to get back into the playoff race this season? Jay Siskin has two suggestions.

It’s an understatement to say that this year’s Milwaukee Bucks season is a disappointment so far.

At 20-30 and six games back from the Indiana Pacers for the eighth and final playoff seeding, the season isn’t a scratch just yet though. Climbing back from six games is still doable, especially with the potential and talent on this Bucks team.

However, something is missing. Something has been missing ever since they traded Jared Dudley and Zaza Pachulia. This year, the Bucks have given all of that work back. Milwaukee’s defense has allowed 7.0 more points per 100 possessions in 2015-16 than it did a year ago.

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There are a bunch of trade rumors floating around the league, and the Bucks need to make a trade in order to make a push for a playoff spot. I have two players in mind that would fit this team, help the team moving forward as this season goes on, and in future seasons.

The Bucks need more shooting and more rim protection. They need to either get back to the controlled scrambling on defense that defined their rise last year or scrap that system and find a less frantic approach that still leverages their length and athleticism into forcing opponents to take uncomfortable and inefficient looks.

Deal #1

Milwaukee Bucks receive: C Tyson Chandler, PF Jon Leuer.

Phoenix Suns receive: C John Henson, PG Grevis Vasquez.

Last year, the Bucks were one of the best defense units in the NBA. As a matter of fact, per Basketball Reference,they were third in the entire league and the best in the Eastern Conference:

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 2/2/2016.

Chandler would help the Bucks get back to what they did best last season, and thats play defense and rebound. I think Chandler would be the missing piece of this Bucks interior. He’s not averaging a lot of points (5.5), but thats because the Suns are a train wreck at the moment.

It surely doesn’t help that the Bucks have also allowed opponents to shoot a higher percentage in the paint, or from mid-range. The veteran would bring physicality and the defensive presence on a nightly basis to help combat that. Remember, he was a key part of the Dallas Mavericks championship a few years back. The guy still shows he can rebound with his athleticism even at age 33.

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 2/2/2016.

In the 2014-15 season, Dallas was a much better team with him on the court. The reason I am using this season is because the Mavericks were a playoff team. The Suns have ruined the usage of Chandler in their offensive and defensive schemes.

Related Story: How Tyson Chandler Could Have Fit The Bucks Last Summer

This move could also bolster their bench unit, which is one of the worst in the league at present.

This trade could result in moving Jabari Parker to a Sixth Man role, which is OK because he would still get a lot of minutes and it would allow him to keep developing. In a reserve role this year, Parker has averaged an offensive rating of 101 and defensive rating of 95, so it could be beneficial for Milwaukee. Also, Chandler could easily come off the bench either.

Deal #2

Milwaukee Bucks receive: PG/SG Lou Williams, PF Brandon Bass.

Los Angeles Lakers receive: SG O.J. Mayo, PF Miles Plumlee, 2018 first round draft pick.

When the Los Angeles Lakers acquired Williams and Bass this summer, the thought around the league was that they might make a run to build talent around superstars. Well, they struck out once again. Months into the regular season, the Lakers are last in the West and moving toward a top pick in the 2016 draft. That pick goes to the Philadelphia 76ers if it ends up being outside the top three.

This means losses are much more valuable than wins, and Williams is one of very few players helping the Lakers win a small number of games. The Lakers would receive a future first round pick to add to their assets for rebuilding, and they also receive two expiring contracts.

The Bucks instantly benefit offensively from Williams coming off the bench. He’s an upgraded version of Mayo. The Bucks are in need of a scoring guard off the bench who can spread the floor  (he’s a career 34.1 percent three-point shooter), and a player who can generate fouls and get to the free throw line. He can also create his own shot and get to the rim.

In the months of December and January, he averaged 14.1 and 19.3 points respectively. In those two months, he posted an offensive rating average of 115 (113 in December and 117 in January). Again, Milwaukee has one of the worst bench units. Milwaukee’s bench is averaging 16.1 points per game (28th in the league). He’s averaging 15.1 points (18.8 per 36 minutes) this year and 23.6 points since December 30.

Lets not forget he had an awesome year with the Toronto Raptors in the 2014-15 season either:

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table

Generated 2/2/2016.

Brandon Bass is no slouch either and would certainly help to offer some more strength, rebounding and bulk to Milwaukee’s front court options.

Next: Milwaukee Bucks Trade Rumors: Why Is Ty Lawson Linked With The Bucks?

If the Milwaukee Bucks decide to make a move at the trade deadline they’ll have plenty of decisions to weigh up. Of course, the emphasis is going to remain towards building for the future, but if the team wants to make moves that can help them both now and moving forward, there are certainly options.