Milwaukee Bucks: 3 reasons to reconsider a Chris Paul trade
By Dalton Sell
Milwaukee Bucks: 3 reasons to reconsider a Chris Paul trade – He could see Milwaukee as a desirable fit
Even before Paul and Antetokounmpo blossomed a friendship in the NBA’s restart, there were whispers that the point guard wanted to play for the Bucks.
Prior to being shipped to Oklahoma City in the 2019 offseason, The Ringer’s Ryen Russillo said on The Woj Pod that Paul had some desire to come to play alongside the reigning league-MVP:
"“I had heard he wanted to go to Milwaukee. Of course, you’d want to go play with Giannis.”"
It is severely rare that a player of Paul’s stature would want to come to the small-market Bucks, and this might be an opportunity the team could eventually passing up.
Thunder general manager Sam Presti has a well-documented history of trading his players where they want to go.
Presti worked closely with Russell Westbrook and his agent before deciding that Houston was the most desirable destination for him last offseason. When Paul George strolled into his office and asked to get traded to the LA Clippers to play with Kawhi Leonard, Presti obliged, although the record-setting amount of draft picks they got certainly made it an easier decision.
If Paul expressed his desire to play with the Bucks as his next destination, Sam Presti would likely work with them to get a deal done. That would first require Milwaukee to show a mutual interest, however, meaning they would need to reconsider their stance.
While Paul’s potential eagerness to play with the Bucks does not make the two-years, $85 million remaining on his contract easier to digest, this would be an all-in move for next season’s title run. Paul would unquestionably be the biggest name to get traded to the Bucks in a long time, which is what this team needs right now, particularly at the point guard position.