The 2022 NBA Trade Deadline is one week away, and everyone wants to know whether or not the Milwaukee Bucks will be partaking in the festivities.
The defending champs have been up and down this season, and while they are still among the top contenders, it is evident that they have some sizeable holes in their roster. In order to patch these holes, they will have to do their due diligence in trades and then the buyout market to improve the roster ahead of the postseason. With that said, let us take a look at three dream scenarios for the Bucks involving trades or the buyout market.
Dream trade deadline/buyout scenario No. 1 – The Milwaukee Bucks snag Thaddeus Young off the buyout market to add size to the frontcourt
Teams across the association have kept a close eye on Thaddeus Young’s current situation with the San Antonio Spurs this season. The forward has fallen out of favor in the rotation, playing a career-low 13.8 minutes per game, which has led some to believe that he could be bought out if he continues to see minimal playing time. In that case, he would be among the most sought-after targets on the market, and the Bucks would likely be among the teams interested.
Young would immediately help the Bucks due to their current predicament in the frontcourt, where they are severely undermanned. With Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Sandro Mamukelashvili, and Semi Ojeleye all struggling to earn consistent minutes, the Bucks need a backup power forward to play behind Giannis Antetokounmpo. Young would be the ideal player for the job, given his stature on the defensive end as a 6-foot-8 forward that can defend multiple positions, in addition to his ability to score the basketball on the other side of things.
Adding the 33-year-old would give the Bucks another ready-made rotation player that could help boost their size and fix one of the biggest flaws on this roster. If Young is bought out of his current contract, there will be no shortage of contenders looking to utilize his services for the remainder of the season, and the Bucks need to make a strong push to bring him in. For now, front offices are anxiously waiting to see if the forward will be bought out or if the Spurs will look to trade him with the deadline on the horizon.