Dissecting Bleacher Report’s latest trade intel on the Milwaukee Bucks

We are deep into the thick of rumor season, folks! There’s no shortage of trade deadline gossip, no matter how big or small and that includes the Milwaukee Bucks, despite their relatively limited resources.

According to Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer in his latest trade rumor intel column, the Bucks appear to be pretty active despite their limited resources as they attempt to solidify their roster for a championship defense.

No, the Bucks aren’t going big game hunting for the likes of John Collins or Jerami Grant (they can’t and don’t need to), but they are being connected to some intriguing smaller pieces that can plug some of the holes they have in regards to their depth. There are also some names on the Bucks roster that are gaining traction in trade discussions! The stove is hot!

Breaking down Bleacher Report’s latest trade intel on the Milwaukee Bucks

Let’s begin with the players on the Bucks roster that were mentioned in Fischer’s article. He mentions three players specifically, those being: Semi Ojeleye, Donte DiVincenzo, and Pat Connaughton.

Those three names range from “no surprise at all” to “well, that’s news to me” in terms of my level of shock that they’re being mentioned in a trade deadline column.

Fischer describes Ojeleye as “considered available for trade,” which is the understatement of the century. He’s played under 80 total minutes in the Bucks’ last 34 games. While some of that was due to injury and health and safety protocol, the 27-year-old has not been great when available for the Bucks either. He’s shooting 23.1 percent from 3 on over two attempts a game which has helped lead to a 34.3 percent true shooting rate.

Ojeleye has been a popular trade filler piece in fake Bucks trades but I can’t see a team being terribly excited to acquire him. He’s certainly available if a team wants him!

Fischer then says that “rival teams have called” regarding two of the Bucks’ key reserve wing players in DiVincenzo and Connaughton.

DiVincenzo is probably the Bucks’ best trade asset as he’s young, good, and a restricted free agent at the end of the season. It’s no surprise that teams have called about him and it shouldn’t shock anyone if he gets moved at or before the deadline to help the Bucks bolster their roster (perhaps for someone who can credibly fill the big wing role?).

It’s not a shock that teams are calling about Connaughton, but it doesn’t mean the Bucks are listening. Ok, well, they probably are listening because it would be silly if they didn’t, but it would be very surprising if Connaughton were to get moved. He’s a swiss army knife that is far too crucial to the Bucks’ rotation and is on one of the best value deals in the league. Don’t read too much into this one. Of course, other teams are interested in a player like that.

There were also three players from other teams that the Bucks were connected to in Fischer’s article in some capacity.

He notes that with the uncertainty surrounding Brook Lopez’s recovery from surgery, they have been looking around at reserve centers to shore up that position group. This leads to them being involved in discussions for players like Jalen Smith from the Phoenix Suns and Daniel Theis from the Houston Rockets.

I’d consider a move for Theis to be very unlikely, mostly due to his contract. He signed a four-year, $35.6 million contract with the Rockets this past offseason and his cap hit would make it tough for the Bucks to match salaries without feeling like they’re giving up too much (DiVincenzo) for a guy who would be considered their third center.

Smith would be an interesting, low-key pickup as a young player that the Bucks could try to develop as a rotation player for future years. He’s only 21-years-old and in his second season after being selected 10th overall by the Suns in the 2020 NBA Draft.

He had a solid 10 game stretch recently where he averaged over 10 points, nearly nine rebounds, and a block per game but with the emergence of Bismack Biyombo for them, he has been once again pushed out of the rotation.

Smith wouldn’t help the Bucks this season (or maybe ever!), but he’s very young, very raw, and could be a part of helping bridge the gap for when Lopez eventually retires or moves on. He’d also be a very low-cost addition.

Perhaps the most interesting name that Fischer connected to the Bucks is Cleveland Cavaliers wing, Cedi Osman. He recently lit up the Bucks defense for 23 points and five 3s but would be a solid fit with their wing rotation.

At 6-foot-7 and 230 pounds, he’d be the biggest wing on the Bucks and has played 26 percent of his career minutes at power forward so that would fit the “big wing defender” mold that I’ve been pounding the table for them to acquire.

He’s shooting nearly 36 percent from 3 this season on around nine attempts per 36 minutes (64.6 percent 3-point attempt rate) so teams would need to respect him from deep but he’s not on the level of Connaughton or Grayson Allen.

Osman, like Theis, may be unlikely because of his contract, however. He’s making over $8 million this season but the number does go down the following two seasons. Still, it would be hard to match contracts without starting with DiVincenzo in a two-team deal.

Also, would the Cavs want to move a rotation player when they’re firmly a top-six seed in the East?

The Bucks could find three-plus team trade scenarios to help them acquire players like Theis or Osman (I’d prefer Osman), but as it stands, those two would be hard to make work financially.

All three players are relatively new names that the Bucks have been connected to and it’s just more proof that they’re exploring all angles to improve their roster as we draw closer and closer to the February 10th trade deadline.

Stay tuned for any rumors or updates on these potential Bucks trade targets.