Milwaukee Bucks: Instant reactions to the surprise Grayson Allen trade

Just when it seemed like the Milwaukee Bucks had put the finishing touches on their roster, they make a surprising trade in the middle of the afternoon.

First reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Bucks have traded Sam Merrill and two future second round picks to the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for Grayson Allen. This news certainly came out of nowhere with no build-up prior to the announcement, and it is an interesting one to look at on the surface.

More from Bucks News

• Bucks 2023-24 player profile: Can MarJon Beauchamp take a leap?
• Piecing together the Milwaukee Bucks’ dream starting 5 in 5 years
• Predicting Thanasis Antetokounmpo’s 2023-24 stats for the Bucks
• Grade the trade: Bucks land reputable backup guard in swap with Pacers
• New workout video should have Milwaukee Bucks fans excited

For the Bucks, Merrill showed potential throughout his rookie season, but he was never a clear-cut rotation player. Merrill seemed destined to have a bigger role in the rotation during his sophomore season, which he still should, despite it not being in Milwaukee. The Grizzlies are an up and coming team loaded with youth, and the guard should fit right in. As for the picks that were included, using them in a move like this is exactly what many had hoped the team had been planning behind closed doors.

What does Grayson Allen bring to the Milwaukee Bucks after the trade?

It is hard not to like this trade as a Bucks fan. While Merrill will be missed, Allen is a proven player that is coming off a career year.  In 50 games with Memphis last season, 38 of them being starts, Allen averaged 10.6 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.2 assists, all of which were career-highs.

Looking at his offense, Allen can bring another outside shooter into the fold as he shot 39.1 percent from the outside on 5.5 attempts last season, which was also a career-high. For a team that embraces their players letting it fly from deep, Allen’s sweet-shooting and scoring should help him fit right in. In addition to his contributions offensively, Allen will give the Bucks another solid defender on the wing to throw at opposing teams. He is not worthy of All-Defensive honors by any means, but the guard can hold his own.

The 25-year-old will add another body to the wing rotation as well, giving some much-needed reinforcements to Donte DiVincenzo and Pat Connaughton. With DiVincenzo still working his way back from that season-ending injury that took place in the first round of the postseason, having another trustworthy rotational piece like Allen ready to go is a solid move. Whether it pertains to offensively or defensively, Allen fits right in with what the Bucks will look to be doing.

The trade for Allen also bolsters Milwaukee’s bench further, pairing him alongside names like Bobby Portis, Pat Connaughton, George Hill, Rodney Hood, and many more household pieces. Given how the team’s second unit oftentimes struggled throughout the postseason, it seems like the team wanted to ensure that those struggles would not persist by retooling significantly.

Many were critical of general manager Jon Horst over the past few days due to his lack of urgency to make big splashes on the free agency market, but he always has something up his sleeve. This trade was by no means a fleece as the Bucks did give up a player and two picks, but the upside is there for this to be a high-reward move.

Wisconsin fans will have some animosity towards Allen for his actions at the collegiate level, but they may have to let bygones be bygones as he heads to Milwaukee.