After spending the majority of the 2022 NBA offseason out of the news, the Milwaukee Bucks have done a complete one-eighty over the past few weeks.
The Bucks have been mentioned in countless trade rumors lately, and it seems like the team is doing its due diligence around the league before the season begins. With that said, let us take a look at the latest trade rumors involving the Bucks and break them down.
Rumor No. 1 – The Milwaukee Bucks had trade interest in a pair of previously available power forwards
Adding a power forward was among the boxes to check on general manager Jon Horst’s to-do list this offseason. Horst managed to do so rather quickly as he inked Joe Ingles to a one-year deal the day NBA free agency began, giving the Milwaukee Bucks some depth at the position. However, the Bucks will likely not see Ingles in action until the latter half of the upcoming season as he recovers from an ACL injury he suffered last season. With Ingles set to miss time, it certainly makes sense that the Bucks were rumored to be looking at a pair of well-known power forwards.
The first forward the Bucks were reportedly looking at was Jerami Grant. ESPN’s Zach Lowe said on his podcast that Milwaukee was “sneakily kind of sniffing around Jerami Grant” before he got traded to the Portland Trail Blazers. Lowe added that the Bucks like the idea of adding switchable guys, which is precisely what Grant is. Due to his scoring, defense, and versatility, Grant would be a perfect fit with the Bucks, but the Blazers swooped in and got him from the Detroit Pistons. It is unclear how persistent the Bucks were in their pursuit of Grant, but it seems like they may have just been checking in.
Lowe also reported on ESPN+ (subscription required) that the Bucks had some discussions about acquiring Bojan Bogdanovic. The forward was one of the last veterans standing for the Utah Jazz after they entered a full-on rebuild this offseason. Bogdanovic was traded to the aforementioned Pistons, taking yet another power forward off the board for the Bucks. While Bogdanovic would not have provided the same defensive intensity and switchability as Grant, he would have given the Bucks another top-notch scorer.
In addition to both players simply being household names, the interesting thing about these two being linked to Milwaukee is their respective salaries. Grant is scheduled to make $21 million for the 2022-23 season, while Bogdanovic will make $19.3 million in that same timeframe. Those two deals are pretty significant, especially for a team like the Bucks that lacks financial flexibility. The trade packages the Bucks would have had to put together for those two would have been an interesting sight to see, given the significant salaries. Ultimately, it is just history now.
Rumor No. 2 – The Milwaukee Bucks have trade interest in veteran Jae Crowder
With Jerami Grant and Bojan Bogdanovic unavailable, it makes sense that the Milwaukee Bucks are reportedly among the teams interested in Jae Crowder. As mentioned in the previously noted article, ESPN’s Zach Lowe reported that the Bucks have internal interest in acquiring the veteran forward after he recently requested a trade from the Phoenix Suns. Crowder is arguably the top name on the trade market right now, and it is interesting to think about his fit in Milwaukee.
When rumors first surfaced about Crowder, it was obvious why many speculated that the team would look to bring him in. Not only could the Bucks use another power forward, but it would be icing on the cake if they got one who was as versatile and reputable defensively as Crowder. Lowe noted that the Bucks think Crowder could be a replacement for P.J. Tucker, which is a common thought that continues popping up in these conversations. Tucker was a pivotal piece to Milwaukee’s 2021 title win, and the team has struggled to replace him since he departed. Crowder shares a lot of similar qualities as Tucker, and he would fit like a glove with the Bucks.
Defensively, Crowder would immediately make the Bucks more formidable. It is clear the Bucks are looking for more switchable defenders, and Crowder is just that. Having Crowder alongside players such as Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jrue Holiday would help take Milwaukee’s defensive intensity up a notch. The Bucks were plagued by a lack of reliable wing defenders last season, and Crowder would immediately provide some relief in that area. The 32-year-old is still capable of taking on the assignment of defending the opposing team’s top scorer nightly, and he would be a huge pickup for the Bucks because of it.
Crowder’s $10.2 million salary for next season is reasonable, and it will be captivating to see if the Bucks make a move. The forward is the perfect target for what this team is always in the hunt for more of, so it would make sense if they pushed their chips to the center of the table to bring him in for their quest to win another title. Lowe reported that the Bucks will look to add one more piece to their roster this season, and that could very well be Crowder.
Rumor No. 3 – The Milwaukee Bucks showed “a lot of interest” in trading for Jordan Clarkson
In addition to Bojan Bogdanovic, the Milwaukee Bucks have been linked to another member of the Utah Jazz this offseason: Jordan Clarkson. Milwaukee’s rumored interest initially came to the light when Fastbreak’s Brett Siegel reported that they were expressing interest in early September. The Athletic’s Tony Jones gave some details on Milwaukee’s pursuit of the guard on an episode of The Bill Riley Show, and the details are certainly interesting.
Per Jones, the Bucks showed a lot of interest in getting Clarkson, but the Jazz were not willing to take back George Hill in a trade. That was reportedly a “non-starter” for them. Given that Hill is on the books for a mere $4 million next season, that is somewhat strange. Still, it is clear that Utah is not willing to take back the veteran for whatever reason, which has seemingly thrown a wrench in Milwaukee’s plans. Still, Jones added that there has not been a serious suitor for Clarkson aside from the Bucks, so it would not be surprising to see these talks reignite again at some point.
Although he does not provide the same stout defense as Jae Crowder or Jerami Grant, Clarkson would help with the team’s lack of bench scoring. Milwaukee’s bench struggled to produce points consistently last season, which haunted them throughout the 2022 postseason. Adding a former Sixth Man of the Year who has averaged 16.8 points per game over the last two and a half years with the Jazz would undoubtedly help improve the bench brigade. Clarkson could generate offense on his own and take pressure off of the Big 3, which is something this team is in need of right now. Despite his defensive shortcomings, Clarkson should be a Bucks’ trade target right now.
Stay tuned to see what other rumors involving the Milwaukee Bucks pop up.