Milwaukee Bucks: 3 red flags to consider with a James Harden trade

Red flag no. 2 – What assets do the Milwaukee Bucks have to trade?

Harden has made it very clear that he wants to join a contender that can help him fulfill his dream of winning a title. Even after falling short of their ultimate goal in each of the last two seasons, the Bucks will be considered a contender as long as Giannis Antetokounmpo is in town.

The problem for the Bucks in weighing any trade, much less one for someone of Harden’s stature, is the fact that they have made a drastic all-in move with Holiday. In order to land the two-way guard, the Bucks had to part ways with three first round draft picks and two pick swaps, all of which will essentially tie up their draft picks until 2027. And of the first rounders they still have in their possession, which includes their 2021 first round pick, the Bucks can’t deal away due to the Stepien rule.

That leaves them with the players they have on their roster to act as the building blocks to a deal and it’s clear two-time All-Star forward Khris Middleton leads that off.

A versatile, highly efficient wing who’s in his prime like Middleton is and whose future is locked up until the 2024 offseason, though he does have a player option for 2023-24, that’s certainly a strong target that may be in line with Houston is seeking in any trade. Of course, it’s important to acknowledge he doesn’t come close to matching Harden’s starpower.

Beyond that, there’s veteran big man Brook Lopez who has enjoyed a career renaissance since coming to Milwaukee through free agency more than two years ago. And of the few promising pieces that the Bucks have team control over, Donte DiVincenzo has positioned himself to be an up-and-coming piece that could enter the Bucks’ starting lineup this season.

Still, all of that isn’t enough to meet the astronomical asking price the Rockets have in any Harden trade package as MacMahon wrote last month:

"“The Rockets are demanding an especially steep return for Harden, a perennial MVP candidate who has led the NBA in scoring the past three seasons: a proven, young star as a centerpiece along with a massive picks package, according to sources.”"

So to say if the Bucks were serious about going after Harden and the Rockets are holding to the bar of wanting as many picks in return to that of the Holiday blockbuster, the Bucks essentially bidded themselves out of making a play for Harden.

And that’s without going into and considering the biggest factor that will test the Bucks’ willingness to pursue a Harden deal..