Milwaukee Bucks: Trade suggestions mailbag

Making a huge splash

With Paul George and the rest of the Oklahoma City Thunder having struggled to live up to the high expectations facing them coming into the season, George’s name could certainly come up in trade discussions as Thunder GM Sam Presti has shown time and time again that he is always going to make the move he thinks is best for his team.

George is a four-time All-Star, currently in the running for Defensive Player of the Year, and is only 27 years old. He is a bona fide star in the NBA, and would drastically elevate the talent level in Milwaukee. In making this trade, the Bucks would propel themselves into the very top-tier of the Eastern Conference with Cleveland and Boston, and might even be the favorites to win the conference.

The elephant in the room with George is his desire to play in Los Angeles with the Lakers, so any trade for him would most likely be a rental until the end of the season. If Jon Horst were to make this move, it would signal that the Bucks are in win-now mode, which could stand to ruin the foundation that the organization has been building for years.

Khris Middleton is on a below-market deal while performing at an All-Star level, and Thon Maker still has plenty of potential. If Paul George leaves this coming summer, Milwaukee would be set back years in their quest to win a title, and would have to waste parts of Giannis’ prime to get back into contention.