Milwaukee Receives: Mario Hezonja
Orlando Receives: Rashad Vaughn, Gary Payton II
Rashad Vaughn may very well turn out to be good NBA player, but sadly, he is not right now. The former 17th overall pick has seen a lot of bench minutes during his two seasons with the Bucks, and could potentially see a lot of time with the Wisconsin Herd come the 2017-18 season.
He did show flashes of an improved game during his third Summer League back in July (which says a lot on its own), and he may make strides this season if given the right opportunities. Vaughn does have solid upside, as his shooting stroke is beautiful, and has flashed his ability to play great defense and even drive to the basket.
If he can hone his skills, Rashad Vaughn might go from the butt of jokes to an important part of an NBA rotation. Unfortunately, the Bucks might not be the place for him to prosper, and the team might want to move on when it comes time to make a decision on his 2018-19 team option.
Mario Hezonja is another player who has largely failed to live up to billing since his own arrival in the NBA. It has been hard to see Hezonja fall from the grace of being a highly promising European prospect to the doldrums of Orlando. Hezonja looked to have the defensive tools, athleticism, and scoring ability to be a great forward in the NBA, and maybe even become a star. His career to date with the Magic has shown nothing of this sort, and the new Orlando front office might want to start afresh.
The Bucks would love to scoop up a player like Hezonja at such a small price, as Orlando may not command more than Vaughn, a former first round pick with upside, and Gary Payton II, as the salary necessary to make the deal work. Maybe Jon Horst should give his old friend John Hammond a call.