Pass or pursue on Milwaukee Bucks’ rumored 2022 trade deadline targets

Should the Milwaukee Bucks pass or pursue rumored trade target Cedi Osman?

The last rumored trade target that Fischer reported was Cedi Osman of the Cleveland Cavaliers. Fischer noted that the Bucks had called the Bucks have indeed called their Central Division rival about the two-way wing’s services, and their interest is justifiable.

It is ironic that this news came out a day after the Bucks and Cavaliers just played and Osman had himself a fantastic game. Osman helped Cleveland take down Milwaukee by scoring 23 points as he shot a scorching hot 6-of-14 from 3-point range. That game alone obviously did not spark the Bucks’ interest, but it certainly may have helped intensify their pursuit.

Osman has been a solid rotational player throughout his first five NBA seasons with the Cavaliers, averaging double-digit points in four of them. Milwaukee could use a second-unit scorer such as Osman off the bench amidst what has been a tough year for them. The Bucks’ bench ranks 29th in points per game this season, something that has hindered their success all year, and Osman could bring a much-needed boost to the table in that regard. He is also solid on the defensive end, and at 6-foot-7, he is versatile on that side of things, which is always a plus in this system.

While Osman could be a desirable trade target for the Bucks, they may run into problems in any trade when trying to piece together a package. Making $8.1 million this season, the forward is a somewhat pricey acquisition for the Bucks, given the assets they have to offer, and some may be hesitant to trade away some key pieces like Donte DiVincenzo or George Hill for him. What they truly need right now is a backup center over another wing, although the added bench scoring would not hurt.

The Verdict: Kick the tires, but his salary makes him a likely pass

Keep an eye on these rumored targets for the Milwaukee Bucks.