The 2023 NBA Trade Deadline is just days away, and the Milwaukee Bucks will certainly be busy.
The biggest question is whether or not they will finally pull off a deal for Jae Crowder, the forward who requested a trade from the Phoenix Suns months ago. It initially seemed like the wheels were starting to turn on a Crowder to Milwaukee deal, but Kyrie Irving’s trade request may have put that on pause for the moment. The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported that one team keeping an eye on Irving is the Suns. If they were to trade for Irving, Crowder would almost certainly be in a deal, which would cause the Bucks to pivot elsewhere.
Although Crowder has seemingly been circled as the top target on their big board for months, the Bucks apparently have some backup plans in mind. Per Yahoo! Sports’ Jake Fischer, the Bucks have been looking for players similar to Crowder in the sense that they are big wings who can defend at a high level via trade. Looking at the current market, there are some intriguing names that could make sense for the Bucks, and here are three of them.
3 Jae Crowder backup plans the Bucks must monitor at the trade deadline: Cam Reddish, New York Knicks
Cam Reddish has been out of the New York Knicks’ rotation for nearly 30 consecutive games now, and he will inevitably be moved before the deadline. The Bucks have consistently been mentioned as a suitor, as they have explored a few avenues to potentially acquire him. Reddish should not be Milwaukee’s top trade target, but he could make sense as a Crowder backup plan.
Reddish has shown potential throughout his first four NBA seasons but has never been able to put the pieces together. At 6-foot-8 with an even lengthier wingspan, the forward has the tools to be a stout defender who can defend big wings with some success. Perhaps that is why the Bucks are so drawn to Reddish. Playing alongside a group of other strong defenders under a coaching staff that prioritizes defense could perhaps unlock some of that potential Reddish possesses.
While the potential is there and the Knicks are practically willing to give Reddish away, he would be far from a homerun addition. There are some concerns regarding Reddish’s potential fit, one of the big ones being his lack of experience. The Bucks’ main need should be a battle-tested veteran who is established in this league and not a player who could be a long-term project. Some youth would not hurt this roster, but experience would be even better. If the Bucks were to swing a deal for Reddish, it would be a low-risk move to give them some added depth.
If Crowder goes elsewhere, it would not be surprising if Milwaukee pivoted to Reddish.