The cons of the Milwaukee Bucks trading for Kevin Durant
If a Kevin Durant trade were easy, it would have been done a long time ago. Instead, it appears the Brooklyn Nets are demanding a king’s ransom for Durant, which makes sense, given that he is one of the best players in the history of the game. However, Brooklyn’s asking price is seemingly steep beyond measure, and the Milwaukee Bucks may not have the ammunition to pull off a trade, and if they do, there are questions regarding what would be left in the aftermath of a move.
Brooklyn’s rumored demands in return for Durant have reportedly been shocking. As reported by Yahoo! Sports’ Vince Goodwill on an episode of the Posted Up podcast, the Nets apparently asked the Minnesota Timberwolves for their two stars in Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards, in addition to draft picks, in exchange for Durant. Per Adam Himmelsbach of the Boston Globe, the Nets initially wanted both Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown in talks with the Boston Celtics, both of whom are All-Stars. For the Bucks, they would likely have to offer both of Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday, in addition to a significant amount of draft picks that they do not even have to get the Nets’ attention.
The Bucks would have to gut a sizeable chunk of their roster to acquire Durant, and going through such a seismic change could alter the chemistry on this roster. After all, this core of this team has already won a championship, and they have not lost a playoff series when the Big 3 are all on the floor over the past two years. Some fans would argue that the Bucks should just run it back next season and not risk shaking things up dramatically. Others would say that chemistry would be outweighed by talent when the roster has Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kevin Durant in tow. Both arguments hold some weight in this case, but the locker room camaraderie with this team is unquestionably legitimate.