Assessing Bleacher Report’s Mike Muscala trade for Milwaukee Bucks
By Dalton Sell
The lunacy in Bleacher Report’s Mike Muscala trade for Milwaukee Bucks
In the bigger picture, there is not much lunacy in this proposed trade whatsoever, as Muscala fits the profile for what the Bucks are searching for right now. However, if there is one potential thing that should cause some hesitancy, it is an injury that Muscala is reportedly playing through.
As reported by The Oklahoman’s Joe Mussatto, the big man is battling through a stress fracture above his right ankle, an injury he suffered in the second half of last season. Although Muscala plans to play through it for at least the remainder of this season, Mussatto notes that the veteran center may have to address it with surgery this coming offseason. With Muscala not practicing on most days due to the injury, the Bucks could be justifiably skeptical about bringing him aboard. They are already dealing with one injured center with Lopez, and another in Muscala could add more problems, depending on the severity of this injury.
Whether it be because of the injury or due to Muscala’s less than outstanding defensive presence, some may believe that there are better centers out there worth pursuing. Younger players such as Mohamed Bamba, Richaun Holmes, or Jalen Smith could all make sense for the champs without the added injury concerns upon arrival. Someone like Bamba would be Milwaukee’s ideal target as he could replicate the defensive excellence down low that the Bucks are missing with Lopez out of the lineup for most of the season.
There are some rightful concerns with trading for Muscala.