After a quiet offseason, the Milwaukee Bucks are gearing up for the start of the 2022-23 season.
With training camp on the horizon, it appears that the Bucks will roll into the next season with the current iteration of their roster. However, that could change in the blink of an eye. There has been plenty of debate surrounding whether or not the Bucks should make a trade ahead of next season, especially given the handful of compelling trade targets on the market. If the front office is looking to strengthen Milwaukee’s roster before next season, here are five targets they could look into.
Kelly Oubre Jr. could be a last minute trade target for the Milwaukee Bucks
After Khris Middleton went down, the Milwaukee Bucks’ lack of reliable wing depth was exposed in the playoffs against the Boston Celtics last season. After that, many clamored for the Bucks to get a two-way wing that could help lessen the concern of that happening again down the line. They did add a wing by drafting MarJon Beauchamp, but it would not hurt to add another, and an eye-catching target could be Kelly Oubre Jr.
Oubre has been linked to the Bucks previously. Per SNY’s Ian Begley, the Bucks were among the teams to pursue the forward during the 2021 offseason. Milwaukee’s rumored interest in Oubre was completely justifiable, and he should be among the names on their radar. The small forward just had a solid year with the Charlotte Hornets in 2021-22 by averaging 15 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.1 assists, and a steal per game. Numbers like that are nothing to scoff at, and Oubre could be a serviceable role player off Milwaukee’s bench.
Adding Oubre would particularly help strengthen Milwaukee’s defense. The 6-foot-7 swingman is incredibly versatile and can defend multiple positions when asked. Oubre would be a great player to have when the Bucks are facing a top-tier wing as he could take on the assignment of slowing them down, which would free up Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jrue Holiday, and the team’s other top defenders. As evidenced by the Celtics series, that would be helpful for the Bucks going forward.
The biggest knock on Oubre is his outside shooting, as he has shot just 33.1 percent from behind the arc across his seven seasons. Given how much the Bucks depend on 3-point shooting, Oubre may not be the perfect fit offensively. Yet, for what it is worth, Oubre did just have a decent year from downtown with the Charlotte Hornets as he buried 34.5 percent of his threes, which was the second-best percentage of his career. Heaving 7.3 3-point attempts per game, which was a new career-high, Oubre was certainly not shy about letting it fly, and perhaps the open looks he would receive with the Bucks could help him build off that success, hypothetically.
Financially, Oubre is set to make $12.6 million next season. That puts the forward with the range of affordability for the Bucks in a realistic trade package, given their limited assets and contracts to match that salary. If the Bucks want to add a wing that can defend at a high level and also give them a scoring boost on the opposite end, Oubre should be on their radar. Per an anonymous executive who spoke with Sean Deveney of Heavy.com, the Charlotte Hornets could look to trade the forward this coming season. If so, the Bucks should certainly inquire about acquiring Oubre.
Derrick Rose could be a last minute trade target for the Milwaukee Bucks
The backup point guard position has been a hot topic of discussion for the Milwaukee Bucks since they fell to the Boston Celtics in the 2022 postseason. George Hill, who occupied the role, failed to make much of an impact whatsoever during the playoffs. Many have called for the front office to pursue an upgrade to help improve Milwaukee’s bench ahead of next season. If the team is looking to patch up one of its biggest flaws, one player that could be worth targeting is Derrick Rose.
Since transitioning to a full-time bench role in 2018-19, Rose has become one of the league’s best second unit players. In that timeframe, he has averaged 16.2 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game. The Bucks could certainly use productivity like that off their bench, given their struggles last season. According to NBA.com/stats, the Bucks ranked 27th in points and 28th in assists off the bench per game last season, both of which hurt this team mightily. Adding Rose would help bump those numbers up and make this bench brigade more formidable.
Rose would also make for an interesting pairing with Jrue Holiday when Mike Budenholzer decides to roll with his two point guard lineups. In these situations, a player like Rose could shoulder some of the workload offensively with his scoring and facilitating, alleviating some of the pressure from Holiday. This would free up Holiday to focus more on his defense rather than having to defend one of the opposing team’s best players and orchestrate Milwaukee’s offense. Hill did not provide the requisite scoring to make these two point guard lineups work last season, and the Bucks would benefit by targeting a guard that could improve these lineups.
The two biggest concerns with Rose are his outside shooting and his health. The former MVP has never been a marksman, having shot 31.6 percent from deep in his career. However, interestingly enough, over the last two seasons, Rose has shown improvement by knocking down 39.4 percent of his triples on 2.9 attempts per contest. Rose is far from an elite 3-point shooter, but if he could replicate his numbers from over the past two seasons, he’d fit right in with the Bucks. His health is the bigger question at hand. It is no secret that the 33-year-old has had his share of injuries over the years, and he was limited to just 26 games last season after undergoing ankle surgery. Rose’s injury history could make the team hesitant to go all-in on him, but due to everything else, he may be worth the gamble.
Before the New York Knicks missed out on Donovan Mitchell, Rose was mentioned in trade rumors. While it remains unclear how the team views him at this moment, the Bucks should keep an eye on the situation to see if the guard becomes available. Rose is set to make $14.5 million in 2022-23, a price the Bucks could meet if they desired. A package with Grayson Allen and Hill fits the billing financially, though it is unclear what the Knicks would think about that deal. Whatever the case, the Bucks are on the record trying to acquire Rose, as Yahoo! Sport’s Vincent Goodwill reported they were in the running for him before the Knicks got him in 2021. That interest may be lingering still, and the Bucks should make a push to acquire the veteran.
Jae Crowder could be a last minute trade target for the Milwaukee Bucks
Whenever a 3-and-D wing is rumored to be available, the Milwaukee Bucks are bound to at least monitor the situation. That is precisely what they should be doing with Jae Crowder after recent rumors surrounding the Phoenix Suns’ forward. According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, Crowder is available in trades at this moment. The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported on Sunday that the Suns and Crowder have mutually agreed to find the veteran a new home, so it seems inevitable that he will be on the move soon. In that case, the Bucks make sense as a suitor.
Crowder’s defense would make him a valuable addition to the Bucks. The 6-foot-6 forward can defend multiple positions, and he would give this Milwaukee team another stout defender who has experience at the highest level. As an outside shooter, Crowder has been streaky throughout his career, but he has been solid with the Suns over the past two seasons by hitting a respectable 36.9 percent of his triples on 5.9 attempts per game. Crowder’s defense, shooting, and experience would make him a seamless fit with the Bucks on both sides of the basketball.
Milwaukee’s versatility would also skyrocket with Crowder in the mix, especially when the team goes to its small-ball lineups. Of course, small-ball was a key factor in the Bucks winning the title in 2021, but those lineups only worked because Milwaukee had a reputable power forward who could take on tough defensive assignments and knock down threes in P.J. Tucker. Crowder would be the perfect player to try and fill those shoes, giving the Bucks a power forward who can slide into that role when Giannis Antetokounmpo goes to center. It was apparent last season that the Bucks lacked this ideal small-ball power forward, and Crowder could be the answer this season.
Crowder’s expiring $10.2 million salary for 2022-23 makes him a reasonable trade target for the Bucks financially. It is unclear what the Suns would want for the veteran, but the Bucks should be interested in the 32-year-old as his future in Phoenix seems to be coming to an end.
P.J. Washington could be a last minute trade target for the Milwaukee Bucks
Dating back to last season, P.J. Washington is one player who many have pegged as a desirable target for the Milwaukee Bucks. Of course, Washington was shrouded in trade rumors after it was reported by Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer that the 24-year-old was a “trade possibility” for the Charlotte Hornets before the 2022 deadline. Washington ultimately stated in Charlotte, but if the Hornets are still possibly open to moving the young forward, the Bucks would be wise to kick the tires on bringing him to Milwaukee.
Over his first three seasons, Washington has shown signs that he could be a legitimate rotational player. The power forward has averaged 11.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and a blocked shot per game, having done a touch of everything for the Hornets. For the Bucks, he could be another Swiss Army Knife off the bench, giving them a player who can score, defend, rebound, and do all of the little things to help this team win games. As highlighted in the Jae Crowder section, this team is also in need of a small ball power forward, and Washington would be a great choice.
Youth is also another significant reason why the Bucks should consider swinging a trade for the former first round pick. Having just turned 24 years old, Washington would be one of the Bucks’ youngest players, and this is a roster that could use some youth, given that they have one of the NBA’s oldest rosters. Aside from MarJon Beauchamp, Sandro Mamukelashvili, and Jordan Nwora, the Bucks do not have much youth to develop on their roster, and adding a piece like Washington could change that on impact.
Washington is set to make $5.8 million next season, which is incredibly affordable when putting together trade packages. Even with their limited assets and financial flexibility, the Bucks could acquire Washington with a lot less string pulling compared to other targets due to his salary. It is unclear what the Hornets may be seeking to part ways with the young forward, but the Bucks should consider finding out to fortify their frontcourt before the 2022-23 season begins.
Jordan Clarkson could be a last minute trade target for the Milwaukee Bucks
In what has been a rather low-key offseason for the Milwaukee Bucks, one rumor has dominated the headlines surrounding the team. According to Fastbreak’s Brett Siegel, the Bucks are among a handful of teams to express interest in acquiring Jordan Clarkson of the Utah Jazz. Bucks fans are divided on whether or not the team should trade for the 30-year-old guard, but there are several justifiable reasons as to why they should.
As highlighted previously throughout the Derrick Rose section, the Bucks could desperately use an upgrade at backup point guard and another scorer. Clarkson would check off both boxes, giving the Bucks one of the best reserves in the entire league. Over the last three seasons with the Jazz, the 2020-21 Sixth Man of the Year has put up great numbers by averaging 16.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per contest. Adding a player who can put up numbers like that nightly would help eradicate Milwaukee’s lack of bench productivity. Having Clarkson in the second unit alongside players like Bobby Portis and Pat Connaughton would help strengthen the bench mightily.
Above all else, the Bucks would be wise to pursue Clarkson because adding him would give them another shot-creator. Outside of the Big 3, the Bucks sorely lacked one of those last season, and it came back to bite them in the postseason. When Khris Middleton went down with an MCL sprain, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jrue Holiday were left to carry a significant portion of the workload on the offensive end. Even with Middleton back in the mix, the Bucks could use another creator on offense to alleviate some of the pressure from that leading trio, and Clarkson would be an option.
To acquire Clarkson, the Bucks would have to put together a package to acquire his $13.4 million salary for next season. That is within reason, as it would likely be another deal centered around a pair of guards in Grayson Allen and George Hill. If the Bucks are indeed interested in Clarkson, the front office may want to act fast as the Jazz continue to clean house this offseason. After trading away Bojan Bogdanovic last week, Clarkson is almost certainly the next (and possibly last) domino for the Jazz, and it will be interesting to see if the Bucks are where he ultimately ends up playing next.
Stay tuned to see if the Milwaukee Bucks make any last minutes trades this offseason.