What the Bucks traded away
With this trade, the Bucks bid farewell to two veterans who were undoubtedly positive influences in the locker room, but it’s fair to suggest that neither was likely to be a major contributor over the remaining months of the season.
Dellavedova had been a fringe contributor prior to the deal, in spite of playing relatively well in limited minutes across 12 games. Unfortunately, Dellavedova never managed to come close to the player he was in his previous spell with the Cavaliers during his two-and-a-half year tenure in Milwaukee.
As Antetokounmpo began to flourish, Dellavedova seemed like a logical point guard fit for Milwaukee, yet his shooting never quite reached the heights of his Cleveland days as wider injuries and inconsistencies also limited his impact.
Perhaps an opportunity would have opened up for him to change that narrative at some point later in the season, but with a bloated deal that was signed at the peak of the NBA’s salary cap gluttony, it’s no surprise to see the Bucks move on from the Aussie as soon as the opportunity presented itself.
For Henson, the story is considerably longer, a little more complicated, and all told, more than a little sad.
Drafted with the 14th pick of the 2012 Draft, in many ways Henson was the first piece of building the long, athletic team the Bucks came to be known as. His rim-protection, defensive instincts and trusty hook shoot always provided a real sense of intrigue as to what Henson could round out as if he reached his full potential, yet that timeline never came to be realized in Milwaukee.
Whenever Henson would start to gather momentum and look to be putting it all together, an obstacle or setback was inevitably lying in wait. His minutes fluctuated throughout his career as the Bucks went back and forth between focusing on development and chasing the eighth seed, Henson was one of many players to fall foul of Jason Kidd on more than one occasion, and more than anything else, he’s had unfortunate timing with injuries throughout his seven-year pro career.
The best example of this to date led to the surgery that will keep Henson sidelined with a wrist injury until after the All-Star break at the earliest. With a new coach and a fresh start for the Bucks, Henson was flashing surprising range from beyond the arc, suggesting a more positive new chapter of his career lay in wait. Injury robbing him of that may ultimately have meant moving on was best for both him and the Bucks.
What shouldn’t be underestimated in this trade is the personal element, as both Henson and Dellavedova were important voices and beloved personalities in the locker room.
Throughout a stay in Milwaukee that spanned a wide range of outcomes, Henson was always jovial, never a negative influence, and an active part of the wider Milwaukee community. His play hasn’t delivered as many would have hoped, but Dellavedova acted as one of the Bucks’ most notable leaders during his stay too, actively offering advice and guidance to the younger players on the roster.
From a basketball standpoint, the Bucks may not lose all that much, particularly in the short term. But away from the court, there’s no question Henson and Dellavedova’s influences will be missed.