Milwaukee Bucks: When should they use newly acquired trade exception?

The Milwaukee Bucks showed their aggressiveness ahead of the NBA trade deadline with a surprise move for defensive specialist P.J. Tucker.

Milwaukee had been linked to the forward for months dating back to the last offseason, and general manager Jon Horst was finally able to bring him in for a solid exchange. Adding Tucker is a sizeable boost in itself, but this move opens the door for Milwaukee to potentially make more impactful moves ahead of the March 25 deadline.

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Thanks to the team trading D.J. Augustin, D.J. Wilson to Houston, and Torrey Craig in a separate deal to Phoenix, the Bucks are approximately $3.5 million below the hard cap and $1.2 million below the luxury tax.

With two newly opened roster spots as well, the Bucks will have newfound flexibility in adding players off the buyout or free agent markets to bolster their roster further. Furthermore, the Bucks created a $4.8 million trade exception by sending D.J. Augustin to Houston.

This exception permits them to trade for a player of equal or less value, giving Milwaukee more leeway if they plan on continuing their aggressive approach before the deadline passes.

The Milwaukee Bucks could look to utilize their trade exception to bring in more reinforcements following the PJ. Tucker deal.

It is clear that Horst is not done filling out this roster just yet. The biggest issue that he needs to address remains adding a backup point guard following Augustin’s departure. The Bucks currently do not have one on their roster, and that simply must change.

Even with the exception at his disposal, Horst will have a tough time trying to make calls on opposing players. Milwaukee’s asset cabinet has been largely emptied over the past few months, leaving the front office with little to work with to get a deal done.

With the trade exception still useful for the next year, the Bucks do not have to jump and use it at the first offer available. However, with the team pushing all their chips to the center of the table to acquire Jrue Holiday and now Tucker over the past few months, one would think they might be eying it.

It is clear that this team has gone all-in to pursue an NBA title this season, and this trade exception could be used to bolster their roster further. While they would almost certainly not be able to land a needle-tipping addition within the $4.8 million range, they could still add a solid rotational piece.

One player that comes to mind that fits in the exception and would fill their point guard opening is Austin Rivers of the New York Knicks. Rivers has been an afterthought in New York’s rotation since they acquired Derrick Rose in February. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski noted that the guard could be a feasible trade target for contending teams. On the books for $3.5 million this season, Rivers could fill Milwaukee’s guard vacancy and use up a hefty portion of their exception.

Rivers is just one potential name to throw into the mix, but even with the dry market, the Bucks should look to utilize this exception within the coming days. Bolstering their depth further with another rotational piece would be a solid move as the playoffs inch closer.

If Horst believes there could be better options available for trade this offseason, he will shift his focus towards the buyout market with the trade deadline four days away. Several veterans could be available if not traded before then, and the Bucks now have the flexibility to bring in two new pieces on deals for the remainder of the season.

The Bucks had some success when they brought in veteran forward Marvin Williams last season, who became an immediate piece in their rotation. Perhaps they could be looking to strike the same sort of luck this season with their two vacant roster openings.

Whichever route they decide to take between the trade exception and buyout market, the next step for the Bucks is adding a backup point guard. Rumors are swirling that they are potentially taking a look at free agent Isaiah Thomas to fill that vacancy, meaning they are in the process of finding one for the remainder of the year.

While there might not be a widespread set of options for them to target right now on the trade market, using their exception before the deadline to fortify their roster further would be a smart move for the right piece.