Following a devastating playoff collapse against the Miami Heat, the Milwaukee Bucks will face a crucial off-season as they look to bounce back next season.
Fans have passionately debated how exactly they would approach this off-season if they were in General Manager Jon Horst’s chair. Some want to blow the core up, while others want to make an assortment of minor tweaks to the current roster. Either way, Horst will not have much to utilize in the off-season when it comes to spending money or draft assets. The best pathway to improving the roster is through trade, so here are Milwaukee’s five best trade assets.
Ranking the Milwaukee Bucks’ 5 best trade assets for the 2023 off-season
No. 5 – Grayson Allen
It was no secret that the Bucks were willing to move on from Grayson Allen last season, as he was floated around in trade rumors for months. Ultimately, the Bucks kept him after they landed their long-sought-after player, Jae Crowder, at the trade deadline without having to give up Allen. Now, with the off-season on the horizon, Allen’s name is bound to pop up in rumors once again, and he could very well be the Buck most likely to be traded.
Allen has been a quality role player for the Bucks over the past two years and has played the best basketball of his career in Milwaukee. In that timeframe, he’s averaged 10.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game while shooting 40.4 percent from three. One might question why Allen would be on the trade block if he’s been a solid starter for the Bucks. Well, if the Bucks are to find any roster upgrades, Allen’s $8.5 million salary will likely be a key factor in any trade.
While teams will not be banging on Milwaukee’s door to get him, Allen’s trade value is solid right now. At 27 years old, he’s still young and has room to grow as he continues working on his game. Allen’s most desirable attribute is his perimeter shooter. As previously mentioned, he’s shot north of 40 percent as a Buck, and plenty of teams would love to have a player with that marksmanship. At $8.5 million, Allen’s salary is not overly hefty, and it will be expiring next season, meaning any team that hypothetically trades for him would have no long-term commitments.
In short, Allen’s salary could make him a key trade chip for the Milwaukee Bucks this off-season, and there are bound to be some rumors involving his name.
No. 4 – MarJon Beauchamp
When it comes to young players the Bucks could trade, they’ve got one option under the age of 27, and that’s MarJon Beauchamp. The team gleefully took Beauchamp with the 24th overall selection in the 2022 NBA Draft using their own first round pick for the first time since 2018. Beauchamp’s role was not prominent during his rookie campaign, but he showed glimpses of potential when he received time. For a roster that desperately needs youth, it would be tough for the Bucks to trade away one of their only young pieces, but the return could possibly ease the blow.
There’s no denying that Beauchamp would garner heavy interest on the trade market if he were made available. He’s just 22 years old and has his entire career ahead of him. On a team that can offer a legitimate role, Beauchamp could undeniably develop into something special, as he checks off several key boxes. He’s a 6-foot-6 wing who has shown signs of being a strong defender while also turning heads offensively at times last season; teams would love to have that, especially as Beauchamp is set to make $2.6 million next season.
If the Bucks entertain trading the 22-year-old forward, they will not be trading Beauchamp alone. Due to his salary, it would not make sense for the Bucks to trade him unless it is in a deal involving several other moving parts. Ideally, it would involve some stars heading to Milwaukee, as the team would be foolish to trade their lone young asset in a deal for anything else. Whatever the case, the young wing is among Milwaukee’s most valuable trade assets this off-season.
No. 3 – 2029 first round draft pick
Due to several massive trades over the years, the Bucks are pretty short on draft capital when it comes to both first and second round picks. However, way off in the distance is a 2029 first round selection, which could be desirable for opposing teams. With the oldest roster in the NBA, there is no telling what the Bucks will look like in six years. If a team believes that the Bucks will not be in the realm of contention when 2029 rolls around, getting that first round pick now could be huge.
The Bucks would have to be certain that they’re getting an incredibly valuable player right now to trade away one of their few picks remaining. While the Bucks must do everything possible to keep this franchise in contention long-term, they have to be smart about it as well. It’s a different set of circumstances, but the Bucks essentially burned five second rounders this past season for a player they did not even utilize down the stretch; they can’t afford to do that with a first rounder.
It will be fascinating to see if the Milwaukee Bucks dangle this pick in trade talks in the off-season.
No. 2 – Bobby Portis
This one isn’t going to be an easy pill to swallow. Bobby Portis certainly means a lot to the fans in Milwaukee as he has become an all-time fan favorite. However, if the team is going to make some major changes, Portis is unquestionably among the team’s best tradeable assets. The big man just finished third in the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year running, and his value might be higher than it has ever been before. It’s undoubtedly an uncomfortable conversation, but one the Milwaukee Bucks might consider depending on what could potentially be on the table.
Despite primarily coming off the bench as a Buck, fans and analysts have said that Portis could be a starter on many teams across the league. That is indeed the case, as several teams would love to bolster their starting five with a walking double-double. Portis’ contract situation would also be desirable on the market, as he just finished the first year of a four-year deal worth $48.6 million. That’s a solid value for a player of his caliber, and it would be even more so for teams looking to add Portis to their starting five.
It seems likely that Portis would not be traded unless it’s a surefire needle-tipping move for the Bucks. Another star player would almost certainly have to be heading to the 414 for the Bucks to move on from a player who was among the Sixth Man of the Year finalists this past season.
No. 1 – Jrue Holiday
Yet another tough pill to swallow. Jrue Holiday has been a key cog for the Bucks and helped them raise their first championship banner in 50 years, but if the team is going to make any significant upgrades in the off-season, Holiday’s name is not off the table. If the Bucks want to take a swing for the fences and improve this roster, Holiday’s name is destined to arise in conversations.
There is no shortage of teams that would love to get their hands on Holiday. Despite coming off of a poor playoff showing, Holiday’s market would be buzzing. He’s among the best two-way players in the entire league and has plenty left in the tank, as he was named an All-Star reserve this year. Holiday is on the books for $35 million next season and will have a $37.4 million player option in 2024-25. Those are reasonable figures for a team looking to make a meaningful upgrade in their backcourt, just like the Milwaukee Bucks were during the 2020 off-season.
It’d be interesting to see what the Bucks could get for Holiday on the market, but it seems unlikely that they would trade him without another star in return. The Bucks are not going to trade Holiday for draft picks and salary filler, as that would be an outright disastrous decision when this team is built to contend right now. If the Bucks could somehow land an upgrade while moving Holiday, it would make more sense, though that is far easier said than done.
It seems unlikely that Holiday will be moved, but there’s no denying he’s Milwaukee’s best asset.
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