3 reasons the Milwaukee Bucks should pursue a Robert Covington trade
By Dalton Sell
Robert Covington would give the Milwaukee Bucks another versatile defender
Along with shooting, defense is always something the Bucks value with any trade target, which makes their previous interest in Covington understandable. The 31-year-old forward has been recognized as a household defender since he went undrafted, earning an All-Defensive selection during the 2017-18 season. For a team that is always looking to bolster their defense, Covington would be a feasible option for Milwaukee.
The word that best describes Covington’s defense would be versatile. Standing a 6-foot-7 with a 7-foot-1 wingspan, he covers plenty of ground defensively, which allows him to defend positions across the board at a high level. Perhaps this versatility was best displayed when Covington was tasked with being Houston’s starting center for a chunk of games after they fully embraced going for a small-ball approach during the 2019-20 season. The Bucks could use a player that embraces such challenges defensively on their side.
Milwaukee could use another strong wing defender coming off the bench before the postseason rolls around. Wesley Matthews, Rodney Hood, and Jordan Nwora are all jockeying for minutes as they look to make a case in the rotation. Covington would be an immediate upgrade over all three due to that hardened presence defensively he brings to the table. Tie that in with his 3-point shot and it is not even close.
Having Covington check into a game and play alongside players like Antetokounmpo and Holiday would be a flat-out nightmare for opposing offenses.