Milwaukee Bucks: 3 reasons to pursue James Harden trade
By Dalton Sell
No. 2 – James Harden actually wants to come to Milwaukee
A star is showing interest in joining a small market team like the Bucks? Blasphemy. Unfortunately, that is the reality that the Bucks have faced for most of their existence, as Milwaukee has never been a desirable destination for players other than places like Los Angeles or New York.
To compensate, the Bucks have dished out hefty contracts and gave up substantial amounts of assets in trades to try and piece together rosters throughout the years. Take the recent Jrue Holiday trade, for example.
Milwaukee paid a sizeable price to land the guard, including Eric Bledsoe, George Hill, three future first round picks, and the rights to two future pick swaps. While some could justifiably say that the Bucks overpaid, that is the price the team has to pay to get star players aboard.
Now, they have a former league MVP that has reportedly included Milwaukee on his list of preferred trade destinations in Harden. Star players rarely express their desire to play for the Bucks, and now, they have a golden opportunity in front of them.
Some will remember when a similar situation came to light ahead of the trade deadline in 2019 with Anthony Davis. The Bucks were included on Davis’ wishlist of teams to be traded to, but Milwaukee distanced themselves from any discussions before the big man got traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in the offseason.
Unlike Davis, however, there will be some stability in Harden’s contract. The 31-year-old will be under contract for the next two seasons, along with a player option for the 2022-23 season. Davis had just one year left, so the organization seemed skeptical to reshape their roster, especially as they were the best regular season team in the league at that point.
Fast forward a year and a half later, the Bucks are facing the most crucial season in franchise history, and Harden could be the missing piece to the puzzle.