Milwaukee Bucks: Trade value power rankings ahead of the deadline

TORONTO, CANADA - JANUARY 31: (Photo by Mark Blinch/NBAE via Getty Images)
TORONTO, CANADA - JANUARY 31: (Photo by Mark Blinch/NBAE via Getty Images)
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INDIANA, IN – DECEMBER 12: (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images)
INDIANA, IN – DECEMBER 12: (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images)

15. Jason Smith

Apologies to Mr. Smith, who overall seems like a good guy and teammate, but someone has to come in last in these rankings. Smith, who came to the Bucks via trade from the Washington Wizards on December 7, has hardly seen any playing time with the Bucks.

Smith has played in just six games in a Bucks uniform, all of them in garbage time when the game was well in hand. The Bucks did not acquire the 32-year-old, veteran center in his 12th season because they thought he would help them to win games. His contract just made the money work.

And, that’s essentially all Smith has to offer when it comes to trade value. He’s on the last year of a contract that’s worth $5.4 million, which makes him a valuable commodity as a player who can make a larger trade work without the team acquiring him having to worry about paying him after this season.

Smith does have some positives. He is seven-feet tall and at 240 pounds seems to be in good shape. After all, you can’t teach size. If he signs with another team this offseason it’ll likely be in the same role that he is in now, a break-in-case-of-emergency center who doesn’t cause trouble and is a true professional.

Right now, his flexible contract is worth more than the actual player and if he does get moved, it’ll be because the money fits into a larger deal.