Milwaukee Bucks: Looking at 5 dark horse trade scenarios
With the Milwaukee Bucks reportedly exploring all avenues on the trade market, we look at five dark horse scenarios that could address their needs this offseason.
If you haven’t paid any attention to the NBA rumor mill, the Milwaukee Bucks are in the business of making moves this offseason.
Having bowed out of the playoffs early in each of the last two seasons, the pressure is on for the Bucks to make an effort to reach the NBA Finals and potentially having another NBA championship in their clutches.
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With all of the motivation in the world to reshape their roster, especially as Giannis Antetokounmpo ponders his future in Milwaukee this offseason, the trade market will prove to be the Bucks’ lifeline in this regard.
These trade scenarios may be unlikely, but could still be possible and would give the Bucks a new look heading into the new season.
Luke Kennard for DJ Wilson and the 24th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft
This trade doesn’t leap off the page as one that will catapult the Bucks into being the favorite to come out of the East next year, but Detroit Pistons 2-guard Luke Kennard would be a great fit in Milwaukee based on his skill set.
While his third NBA season ended prematurely due to injury, Kennard averaged a career high 15.8 points while shooting 44.5 percent from the field and 39.9 percent from three, along with 4.1 assists and 3.5 rebounds. Even on a rebuilding Pistons squad, Kennard’s scoring average would have slot in behind the Bucks’ All-Star tandem of Antetokounmpo and Khirs Middleton.
Certainly the biggest impact Kennard would make for the Bucks is adding his shooting and shot creation pedigree, especially within their offensive system. A career 40.2 percent 3-point shooter, Kennard’ sniping is especially alluring for a Bucks team that lets threes fly at will, but collectively hit 35.5 percent from beyond the arc, which ranked 18th in the NBA last year.
While it’s easy to point to Kennard’s defensive shortcomings as well as his durability, the Bucks certainly have a roster built to cover up for someone like the former Blue Devil on the floor.
Milwaukee has had a reported interest in Kennard for a while and especially around last season’s trade deadline. With that said, Detroit may be hesitant to part ways with a well-rounded scorer like Kennard and a potential building block for their rebuild.
However, Kennard is extension-eligible once free agency start this month and how the Pistons go about extension talks with the 24-year-old will be an interesting monitor. Of course, both sides could just wait until next offseason, provided the Pistons tender his qualifying offer and make Kennard a restricted free agent under this scenario.
Given the arrival of new general manager Troy Weaver, it will be interesting to see how he views Kennard as he obviously didn’t select him out of the draft more than three years ago.
Whether Detroit would be interested in someone with a flimsy track record like D.J. Wilson is probably a long shot. However, the flashes Wilson has shown at times, combined with the sweetener of the 24th overall pick in this draft, could sweeten Detroit’s tune in the framework of this deal.