3 last minute trade ideas for the Milwaukee Bucks before 2022 deadline
By Dalton Sell
The 2022 NBA Trade Deadline is officially five days from now, and the Milwaukee Bucks are on the clock. Anyone who has watched Milwaukee play lately understands that this team needs to make a move, whether it be to bolster their center position, add more depth to the wing, or just bring in a quality contributor in their quest to repeat as NBA Champions. With all that said, let us not waste any more time and dive straight into three last-minute trade ideas for the Bucks.
Trade No. 1 – The Milwaukee Bucks finally get their backup center
The biggest hole on Milwaukee’s roster right now is the lack of depth at the center position due to Brook Lopez’s absence. After appearing in the season-opener, the big man was suddenly sidelined with back soreness, which eventually led to him getting surgery. Bobby Portis has done a great job of filling in for Lopez in the starting five, but the lack of another big man has hindered the team. As they look to address this issue before the trade deadline, one interesting name is Montrezl Harrell.
As noted by NBC Sports’ Chase Hughes, Harrell is viewed by many executives around the league as one of the likeliest Wizards to be dealt before the deadline. He also adds that if Washington does move him, it could be for a player that helps more defensively. If the Wizards are looking for defense, Donte DiVincenzo may be a compelling option for them. The young guard has proven to be a solid defender throughout his first few NBA seasons and could be a piece for them to build with moving forward. While a Harrell-for-DiVincenzo swap does not work straight up, the Bucks could also add in Semi Ojeleye and Rodney Hood to match salaries, as well as a second-rounder to sweeten the pot.
Harrell’s fit with the Bucks is far from seamless, as there are some things to like and things that would cause some skepticism. Starting with the positives, Harrell would give the Bucks the backup center that they need right now. Simply having another able body at the position right now would be a blessing for the champs, but Harrell would be particularly interesting. The big man is currently averaging 14.8 points while shooting an efficient 65.2 percent from the field and hauling in nearly seven rebounds per game this season. Productivity like that could go a long way for Milwaukee.
The 2019-20 Sixth Man of the Year would provide a sizeable spark for this lackluster bench unit that ranks 29th in points and 25th in rebounds this season. Also, the 28-year-old is known for his energy and toughness, two things that the Bucks are still looking to replace after they inexcusably let P.J. Tucker walk out the door in free agency. Harrell is known to wear his heart on his sleeve, and his tenacity could spark some life into this bench unit.
As for potential issues with Harrell, there are a few. He is not a traditional center at just 6-foot-7, he does not space the floor, and his overall fit with the Bucks could cause some to be skeptical to make a move. However, Milwaukee’s need for a center and Harrell’s rumored availability could be enough to outweigh those concerns. Whether or not the Bucks believe Lopez is coming back, they should add more size before the deadline or in the buyout market, and Harrell would make sense for the Milwaukee Bucks to some degree.