Milwaukee Bucks: 5 last minute trade targets before 2022-23 NBA season

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.