Heading into the 2022-23 NBA season, it was clear that the Milwaukee Bucks felt good about their roster. In addition to bringing back key free agents like Bobby Portis, Jevon Carter, Wesley Matthews, and more, the team added some solid pieces in MarJon Beauchamp and Joe Ingles to surround their returning Big 3. On paper, the Bucks put together a quality collection of talent to help them compete for a title this year, but it was always clear that they would look to add more.
Before the new season began, ESPN’s Zach Lowe (subscription required) reported that the Bucks would spend the year looking for “one more piece” to bulk up their roster. Since the season began, the Bucks have indeed been linked to several high-profile trade targets. Jon Horst, Milwaukee’s general manager and a former Executive of the Year winner, has been doing his homework across the league to potentially try and add that one piece before the trade deadline. Those conversations should only heat up with the trade deadline inching closer. With all of that said, let us look at eight potential targets for the Bucks who are rumored to be available via trade.
8 targets for the Milwaukee Bucks before the 2023 NBA trade deadline – P.J. Washington, Charlotte Hornets
Dating back to last season, P.J. Washington has been shrouded in trade rumors. Those murmurs have carried over into this season as the 24-year-old forward is in a contract year. As reported by HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto, Washington and the Charlotte Hornets have been far apart in talks for an extension, and the team is expected to gauge his interest on the market. Washington made sense as a target for the Milwaukee Bucks last year, and he would make sense again this year.
If one thing is true, it is that the Bucks are always looking for defensive help in the frontcourt. For that reason, Washington would be a great fit. The forward has proven to be a solid defender in his first four seasons by utilizing his 6-foot-7 stature to defend multiple positions effectively. Adding a player like that would be wise for the Bucks, given their constant desire to get more versatile on that side of the basketball. Specifically, the Bucks are currently in the hunt for a big wing defender, and Washington is a solid option for them to consider in that regard.
Washington would be good for the Bucks defensively, but he would help on the offensive end as well. The young forward is currently having a career year by averaging 15.1 points per game. For his career, Washington has hit a respectable 36.9 percent of his 3-point attempts, so he is capable of spacing the floor, which is another attribute the Bucks tend to seek out with their targets. While this move would primarily be for defensive purposes, it would not hurt to add another scorer who can knock down the long ball with some consistency.
Another big draw with Washington is his contract. The former first round pick is currently making $5.8 million this season, which would be extremely affordable for the Bucks. However, the Bucks would have to understand that Washington is due for a contract extension after the season, and he is likely in the market for a hefty raise. Given the team’s current financial limitations, it would put them in somewhat of a bind to commit to him long-term. However, if the team is looking for a short-term frontcourt option and is willing to cross the contract bridge when they get to it, making a pitch for Washington would be justifiable.
8 targets for the Milwaukee Bucks before the 2023 NBA trade deadline – Kelly Oubre Jr., Charlotte Hornets
Sticking with the Charlotte Hornets, another player on their roster who should be of interest to the Milwaukee Bucks is Kelly Oubre Jr. Per Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus, opposing teams are keeping a close eye on the availability of Oubre, among other Hornets, leading up to the deadline. If Oubre is made available in the coming months, the Bucks should make a run at the 27-year-old wing to fortify their personnel at the position.
Among the two-way wings who could potentially be available before the deadline, it would be a challenge to find a handful more enticing than Oubre. Like the aforementioned P.J. Washington, Oubre is a 6-foot-7 forward who can defend several positions at a high level. Given Milwaukee’s need for another strong wing defender, adding Oubre would help tremendously. Offensively, the veteran is in the midst of a career year by averaging 20.2 points per contest. While he has had a tough time staying efficient this season, Oubre could bring much-needed scoring to this team.
Financially, Oubre is making an expiring $12.6 million this season. The Bucks would run the risk of losing Oubre after the season if they did trade for him, given that all signs point to him seeking understandable raise in the offseason. However, given the team’s needs right now, making a run at him is undoubtedly something that should be considered. Oubre’s salary puts him within the realm of possibility for the Bucks in a trade, and his on-court fit would make sense in Milwaukee.
8 targets for the Milwaukee Bucks before the 2023 NBA trade deadline – Derrick Rose, New York Knicks
In addition to versatile defenders, the Milwaukee Bucks could also consider adding more pieces to improve their play on the offensive end. With Khris Middleton missing a significant portion of this season, Milwaukee’s offense has struggled mightily. One option they could look at is Derrick Rose, who The Athletic’s Shams Charania (subscription required) reported is on the trading block after being taken out of the New York Knicks rotation recently.
Over the previous four seasons, Rose transitioned to a full-time bench role, and the former MVP found new life in his career by doing so. The guard has averaged 16.2 points and 4.6 assists per game in that timeframe, having provided both high-level scoring and facilitating. The Bucks could use help off the bench in both of those areas. The team has suffered from a lack of reliable shot creators this season, and Rose would undoubtedly give the team some juice in that regard. He’d give the team another veteran ball-handler to alleviate some pressure off of Jrue Holiday and Giannis Antetokounmpo, which would be a huge help offensively.
While Rose could help, he may not be the most cut-and-dry target for the Bucks. Even before he was pulled from New York’s rotation, the veteran was averaging career lows in several statistical categories. At 34 years old, Rose would also not help the Bucks’ need for youth. Lastly, there are injury concerns with Rose, as he has missed considerable time over the years, including 57 games last year. Still, if the Bucks want to go all-in on adding a ball-handling guard and believe Rose still has something left in the tank, they could swing a trade for him and get him back into a rotation. On the books for $14.5 million this season, Rose’s salary does not make him the most outlandish target for the Bucks financially.
8 targets for the Milwaukee Bucks before the 2023 NBA trade deadline – Kyle Kuzma, Washington Wizards
Circling back to the power forward position, one target the Milwaukee Bucks could check into is Kyle Kuzma of the Washington Wizards. As initially reported by veteran NBA insider Marc Stein (subscription required), there is a rising belief that Kuzma is “gettable” before the trade deadline. In their quest to add frontcourt talent, Kuzma is an interesting possibility to ponder pursuing.
Kuzma checks a lot of boxes for the Bucks. If they want to shore up their offense, Kuzma is a player who could certainly help, given that he is currently averaging a career-best 21.7 points per game this season. He’d be a piece to help keep the wheels turning when Milwaukee’s offense has trouble due to his ability to put the ball in the basket. Defensively, Kuzma would give Milwaukee an added dose of versatility, as his 6-foot-9 stature would make him a quality option for matching up with bigger wings or forwards. The 27-year-old forward also knows what it takes to compete at the highest level, as he was a key cog for the title-winning Los Angeles Lakers in 2020.
Like several of the other targets on the list, Kuzma is also set to enter free agency after his salary of $13 million this season expires, so making a trade for him would pose some risk. Furthermore, it is clear that Kuzma is seeking a massive payday this coming offseason. As mentioned in the aforementioned article by B/R’s Eric Pincus, Kuzma could command over $20 million. That makes it tough to envision the Bucks trading for the former NBA champion unless they are willing to risk losing him after the season, but it is far from impossible. If the Wizards do move Kuzma, it would likely take a haul in return. It will be interesting to see whether or not the Bucks kick the tires.
8 targets for the Milwaukee Bucks before the 2023 NBA trade deadline – Jae Crowder, Phoenix Suns
Another defensive-minded power forward; imagine that. However, what separates Jae Crowder from the rest of the names on this list is that he has been linked to the Milwaukee Bucks time and time again since he requested a trade from the Phoenix Suns. Crowder seems to be a player the Bucks covet highly, and they are likely continuing to explore possible avenues to acquire him before the trade deadline right this moment.
From Milwaukee’s perspective, it is clear to see why they seem so intent on adding Crowder at some point this season. The 6-foot-6 forward has made a living in the league as a hard-nosed defender who has brought toughness wherever he has played. Crowder’s style is reminiscent of P.J. Tucker, the former Buck who played a key role in helping the team take home the 2021 title. Given that the Bucks are in the hunt for another big wing defender to fill Tucker’s shoes, many would point to Crowder as the ideal player to fit the billing. He’d fit seamlessly with Milwaukee’s core pieces while giving Coach Mike Budenholzer another versatile player to utilize.
Crowder has yet to appear in a game this season after requesting a trade from the Suns before the 2022-23 campaign began, so there is some worry about how he will look upon returning. Yet, that has seemingly not stopped the Bucks from pushing to get him. Despite Crowder being set to enter the free agent market this offseason after his $10.1 million deal expires, the Bucks seem content figuring that out later. Right now, Crowder seems like one of the top trade targets the Bucks have circled on their board of candidates. Time will tell if they ultimately land the veteran.
8 targets for the Milwaukee Bucks before the 2023 NBA trade deadline – Bojan Bogdanovic, Detroit Pistons
Perhaps the most interesting rumor for the Milwaukee Bucks this last offseason revolved around their rumored interest in Bojan Bogdanovic. As reported by Zach Lowe in the previously mentioned piece from ESPN, the Bucks had some conversations about the veteran before he was traded from the Utah Jazz to the Detroit Pistons in September. With Bogdanovic’s name popping up in rumors once again, as The Athletic’s Shams Charania (subscription required) has reported that Detroit has had talks with the Los Angeles Lakers about a deal, perhaps the Bucks could make an offer.
If the Bucks are looking to improve their shot creation and 3-point shooting, which they should be, Bogdanovic would be a significant addition. He is currently having the best season of his career by averaging 20.6 points and 2.5 assists per game, both career highs. That goes without mentioning that Bogdanovic is also burying 40.2 percent of his threes on an average of 5.9 attempts. With an offensive repertoire like that, Bogdanovic could help Milwaukee get better offensively. With a big hole at the forward position in Khris Middleton’s ongoing absence, adding Bogdanovic would be a significant get for the Bucks.
The problem with the thought of the Bucks adding Bogdanovic is that he is on the books for quite a lot at $19.3 million this season. The Bucks would have to gut a significant portion of their depth to even make a trade work financially if they were to keep their core intact, and that goes without mentioning the draft capital that would be required. That makes it a little tougher to see a deal for Bogdanovic happening, but that did not stop the Bucks from eyeing him previously. Depending on just how available Bogdanovic is in the near future, it would not be surprising to hear the Bucks get at least linked to him once again.
8 targets for the Milwaukee Bucks before the 2023 NBA trade deadline – Immanuel Quickley, New York Knicks
If the Milwaukee Bucks called the New York Knicks about a deal and were not interested in the previously mentioned Derrick Rose, perhaps they could inquire about Immanuel Quickley, who could seemingly be available. As Shams Charania reported in a previously mentioned article, Quickley is another guard the Knicks are willing to discuss in trades before the deadline. Given some of their current needs, the Bucks would be wise to pursue Quickley.
Having averaged 11.3 points per game during his first three years, the 23-year-old could be an impactful microwave scorer off the bench. Given Milwaukee’s struggles on the offensive side of the basketball this season, having a piece like Quickley would help to make sure the offense does not go stagnant as often. His efficiency has never been outstanding, having shot 39.6 percent on his field goals on 35.9 percent from three, but Quickley could certainly help the Bucks put more points on the board. Quickley has also proven to be a pest on the defensive end, having improved mightily on that end this season.
Quickley would be an extremely affordable trade target for the Bucks, as he is making $2.6 million this season. The Bucks could easily piece together a trade package to fit that financially, but what is unclear is what exactly it would take for the Knicks to move on from him. Whatever the case, the Bucks should inquire about the point guard’s availability. At 23 years old, adding a piece such as Quickley on a cheap deal like that would be a massive addition to this rotation.
8 targets for the Milwaukee Bucks before the 2023 NBA trade deadline – Collin Sexton
After missing most of last season due to injury, Collin Sexton was traded to the Utah Jazz and has played rather well thus far. However, he may not be in Utah long-term. Yossi Gozlan said on a recent episode of the HoopsHype Podcast that he believes Sexton could possibly be flipped for assets at some point. While that may just be speculation, the Milwaukee Bucks would be a feasible suitor if that indeed became the case down the line.
Sexton would give the Bucks another combo guard who is more than capable of starting alongside Milwaukee’s other key pieces. Having another ball-handler in the lineup would not hurt, especially if it was someone as dynamic as Sexton. In the three seasons before his injury, Sexton averaged a respectable 20.2 points and 3.4 assists per game. The guard could be another reliable scorer and passer in Milwaukee’s rotation. Age is also important, as Sexton is about to turn 24 years old in the next few days. Youth is something the Bucks should be looking to add more of, and getting a piece like Sexton, who is young and under contract for several seasons, would be tremendous.
Speaking of contracts, Sexton is making $16.5 million this season. That makes Sexton somewhat difficult for the Bucks to make a run at, but a deal could be possible if the Jazz would be willing to entertain moving him. Given everything he brings to the table, the Bucks should keep a close eye on the guard in the coming weeks leading up to the deadline and possibly push their chips to the center of the table to strengthen their guard rotation.
Stay tuned to see if the Milwaukee Bucks pursue any of these possible trade targets.