3 last minute trade ideas for the Milwaukee Bucks before 2022 deadline

Trade No. 3 – The Milwaukee Bucks fortify their wing depth with two players

This one does not involve a center for the Bucks, but it would help them strengthen their wing depth before the postseason arrives. The Athletic’s Shams Charania and Bob Kravitz (subscription required) reported back in December that the Indiana Pacers could be aiming to enter a rebuild in the near future, making several key pieces on their roster available for trade. While Milwaukee will not try to get any of Indiana’s top players, they could swing for two solid forwards in Justin Holiday and Torrey Craig.

Holiday has been pegged as a potential trade target for the Bucks all year, and for plenty more reasons than just being Jrue Holiday’s brother. The forward is having one of his best NBA seasons with the Pacers this season by averaging 11.1 points while shooting 38 percent from behind the arc on a career-high 6.9 attempts per game. Scoring and shooting like that would help bump up Milwaukee’s lackluster bench production numbers. While he is more known for his offense, the veteran could provide another strong defensive presence as well off the bench.

While most Bucks fans can get behind the idea of adding Holiday, there are bound to be some that will be torn on the idea of Craig. Of course, Craig was with the Bucks last season but never found a role for himself as he was hit with injuries early on. Milwaukee traded him for cash considerations at the trade deadline and saw him in the NBA Finals as a member of the Phoenix Suns. While fans might not want to go through that saga again, Craig could certainly help the team right now with his defensive expertise. If the Bucks go toe-to-toe in the postseason with top-tier players like Kevin Durant or Jimmy Butler again, having someone like Craig on their side would help.

To absorb Holiday’s $6 million salary and Craig’s $4.8 million salary, the Bucks could send out a deal including DiVincenzo, Hood, and Ojeleye. Once again, DiVincenzo would be the best piece in this deal for Indiana, as he could be a solid young piece to have if they do enter a rebuild soon. The two expiring veterans in Ojeleye and Hood would also give them financial flexibility compared to Holiday and Craig, who are both under contract next season.

Aside from a center, another wing or two would not hurt the Bucks, and this tandem could help.

Stay tuned for any new developments surrounding the Milwaukee Bucks and the trade deadline.