Milwaukee Bucks: The pros of pursuing trade target P.J. Tucker
One area that Milwaukee could look to shore up ahead of the trade deadline is their depth in the frontcourt, and Tucker fits the bill as a potential target. The Bucks have rolled with a three-man rotation in the frontcourt this season with Giannis Antetokounmpo, Brook Lopez, and Bobby Portis.
With Portis being the only big man off Milwaukee’s bench, the team has been left without a backup forward behind Antetokounmpo. Portis would typically fill this role, but per Basketball Reference, the big man has played a career-high 83 percent of his minutes at the center position this season, leaving their backup power forward position primarily vacant.
While Bucks fans would love to see the team recall G-League standout Mamadi Diakite to get some action in the big leagues, making a move for a savvy veteran in Tucker is also on the table for good reason. The forward could make an immediate impact on this team, particularly defensively.
Standing at 6’5″ and weighing in at 245 pounds, Tucker is among the most versatile defenders in the association, able to guard several positions at a top-tier level. That prowess could help sharpen Milwaukee’s defense, which has not been up to par this season compared to their dominant stature the previous two years.
While the Bucks would love to get a player like Tucker, it would also be beneficial to keep him away from the other Eastern Conference contenders. If the Brooklyn Nets or Miami Heat were to snag Tucker, that would give them another high-end defender to throw at the Bucks in a potential postseason setting down the road.