With the 2022 NBA Trade Deadline just days away, the Milwaukee Bucks are reportedly looking at a backup point guard. As first reported by The Action Network’s Matt Moore on Sunday, the Bucks have made an offer to the Boston Celtics for guard Dennis Schröder. The 28-year-old has been a victim of trade rumors over the past several months, and the champs have been inserted into the mix following this news.
Bucks fans are divided on the idea of adding Schröder to the roster, largely because it is unclear what Milwaukee would have to give up to acquire him. The point guard does have an affordable salary at $5.9 million this season, which makes him far easier to work with than several of their other proposed targets. While Moore did not disclose what Milwaukee’s offer to Boston was for Schröder, it should look something like this.
Looking at this proposed Dennis Schröder trade package for Milwaukee Bucks
This is likely somewhat similar to what the Bucks offered in their proposal. While trading Hill for a second time as a member of the Bucks may seem cruel, including him in this deal is the clear first step, given that he and Schröder are both point guards. Hill also has one of Milwaukee’s tradeable deals as he is making $4 million this season, so including him is almost guaranteed.
The interesting part of this deal is Jordan Nwora, the second-year forward for the Bucks. He would have to be included to match salaries in this deal, given that he is making $1.5 million this year and the combined salaries of him and Hill allow Milwaukee to absorb Schröder’s remaining salary. Yet, if including Nwora was solely about salary matching purposes, the Bucks would offer players like Rodney Hood or Semi Ojeleye first. The problem is that Boston almost certainly does not want either of those pieces.
Nwora has to be included because he is arguably Milwaukee’s best asset. The young forward has shown glimpses of untapped potential throughout his first two NBA seasons, but the opportunity has not been there consistently for him. Perhaps Boston would view Nwora as a desirable piece to take on in a deal for Schröder.
Some Bucks fans may be hesitant to include Nwora in a package, given that untapped potential he possesses as a gifted scorer. While that is understanding, the playing time is just not there for the sophomore in this veteran-oriented rotation under Mike Budenholzer. If the Bucks do trade Nwora before the deadline, it should be in a win-now move, and someone like Schröder fits the billing.
Another significant reason why Hill and Nwora would likely be the proposed package is because of Milwaukee’s desire to retain Donte DiVincenzo. As first reported by HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto, the Bucks potentially want to keep the young guard beyond this offseason when he is scheduled to hit restricted free agency. Scotto added that the Bucks would consider moving DiVincenzo in a win-now move, which would likely have to include a center, and it seems unlikely that they would swap him for another guard in Schröder.
If the Bucks make a move for Schröder, sending out Hill and Nwora seems like the best option.