Assessing a Milwaukee Bucks’ trade package for Jalen Smith

The Milwaukee Bucks are reportedly trying to add a center before the February 10 trade deadline.

According to Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer, the defending champions are doing their due diligence around the trade market for some size, and one potential target is Jalen Smith. The 21-year-old is an interesting player to monitor leading up to the trade deadline as he has been linked in countless rumors over the past few months. While hearing him mentioned as a target for the Bucks came as a surprise, it does make sense.

Of course, the Bucks are currently thin at the center position due to Brook Lopez’s absence after his back surgery. The veteran rim-protector has missed all but one game this season as a result, and the Bucks are missing him dearly right now. Although they are reportedly optimistic that he might be back at some point this season, looking at another center to beef up the rotation with a player like Smith is justifiable.

With that said, let us take a look at a potential package between the Bucks and the Phoenix Suns for the former lottery pick.

A trade between the Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns for Jalen Smith

This was a trade proposed in a recent collection of ideas to help the champs add more size.

Unlike most potential trade targets for the Bucks, Smith’s expiring $4.5 million salary is relatively affordable for their liking. While it is unclear what the Suns could be asking for in exchange for the former lottery pick, the salaries of Rodney Hood ($2.3 million) and Semi Ojeleye ($1.8 million) are enough to match from a financial perspective. The Bucks would certainly have to add in some form of draft capital to get the wheels turning, and a second round pick seems like a good place to start.

With that said, let us break down this trade by dissecting the logic, lunacy, and overall verdict as the Bucks potentially explore avenues to trade for Smith.