The Milwaukee Bucks have been relatively quiet in trade rumors this season, but that might change as this season’s trade deadline approaches.
A familiar trade target has been linked to the Bucks once again, as ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported on an episode of NBA Countdown that the Bucks are interested in pursuing a trade for veteran swingman P.J. Tucker. The forward’s name has been swirling in trade rumors far and wide for months, and a slew of contenders are reportedly gearing up to make a run at him:
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"“There’s a lot of interest among contenders in (P.J.) Tucker, who is in the last year of his deal. The Miami Heat, who the Lakers play tonight, Milwaukee, Brooklyn and several others.”"
Tucker has expressed displeasure with the Houston Rockets for months now regarding his contract situation, currently seeking an extension. Without a new deal in sight, it seems that the organization is fully prepared to move on from him.
Of course, reshaping their roster by shipping out Russell Westbrook, Robert Covington, and James Harden over the past few months certainly helps make that an easier decision for Houston’s front office. The team is shifting towards a more youth-driven movement, and moving on from the 35-year-old seems to be in their immediate plans.
The Bucks reportedly made a run at Tucker this past offseason to no avail, so their interest all these months later should not come as much of a surprise. Tucker could be a solid pickup for Milwaukee, but much like all trade targets, pursuing a trade for Tucker comes with its share of risks and rewards.
With that being said, here are the pros and cons of the Bucks making a move for P.J. Tucker ahead of the March 25 deadline.
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.
Milwaukee Bucks: The cons of pursuing trade target P.J. Tucker
The list here is rather finite, as Tucker is a solid trade target for the Bucks in the grand scheme of things. He brings size, defensive expertise, battle-tested experience, and several other compelling characteristics to help this team in their title chase.
However, one area that could be problematic is Tucker’s substandard offense this season. He is averaging just 4.7 points per game while shooting 37.5 percent from the floor and 32.9 percent from behind the arc. Those are in the ballpark for the worst numbers of his career, and that is not ideal for a Milwaukee team that has been thriving off their offense this season.
Another issue that comes with pursuing the veteran is the degree of difficulty that piecing together a potential trade package for him would be.
Tucker is on the books for $7.96 million this season, and that puts the Bucks in a tough spot financially trying to match salaries. Another aspect that makes a deal more difficult for Milwaukee is Houston’s reported asking price in return for Tucker. As Wojnarowski reports:
"“One thing I’m told is that Houston wants back not picks, but a player they can plug back into their lineup.”"
For the Bucks, matching salaries and giving the Rockets a suitable player in return would almost guarantee parting ways with Brook Lopez, D.J. Augustin, or Pat Connaughton, who all make over $5 million annually. However, it seems unlikely that the Rockets would be open to taking on any of these three considering they have multiple years and left on their current contracts.
Nevertheless, Milwaukee’s general manager Jon Horst has shown that he will remain aggressive when pursuing trades throughout the years, no matter how difficult. The former Executive of the Year winner has made several splashes on the trade market in recent memory, and bringing in Tucker could potentially end up being his next move.
If the Bucks can work out the financial difficulties in a deal for Tucker, this would be an impactful addition for them ahead of the trade deadline.