Jae Crowder or Eric Gordon, which trade target should the Bucks prefer?
By Dalton Sell
The verdict on who should be the Milwaukee Bucks’ top trade target
Crowder and Gordon both have some interesting attributes that would make them intriguing fits in Milwaukee, but the former should be the team’s preferred target among the two.
The Bucks are clearly looking for another defensive-minded wing, and Crowder fits that profile far better than Gordon. Sure, another scorer and shooter would not hurt, but Gordon has not exactly excelled with the Houston Rockets this season. The two guard is currently averaging a career-low 13.1 points per game while shooting 34.2 percent from 3-point land. For a player known for his offense, numbers like that are not flashy, especially when one hears about Houston’s asking price.
As Stein mentioned in the previously mentioned report, the Bucks offered the Rockets a whopping four second round picks for Gordon but were turned down. The Rockets want a first round pick to part ways with Gordon, which is certainly steep. According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania (Subscription required), the Bucks’ latest offer for Crowder has involved George Hill, Serge Ibaka, Jordan Nwora, and second rounders, which is much more reasonable.
The financial aspect of this deal should also be taken into account. Crowder is on the books for a reasonable $10.2 million this season, while Gordon is making $19.6 million. To get the latter, not only would the Bucks have to include Hill, Ibaka, and Nwora, but they would also have to include Grayson Allen and a first round pick. That would certainly be a steep price, especially for a player who is having his least-productive scoring season to date. Crowder’s cost would be way more reasonable and would address the team’s need for more experienced defensive-minded wings.
Yes, there are questions as to how Crowder might look when he returns to the court, given that he has not played one game this season. However, the Bucks should be willing to take the gamble to strengthen their defense, and it appears they are beyond willing to do so.
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Stay tuned to see if the Bucks land Crowder or Gordon ahead of the 2023 NBA Trade Deadline.