The Milwaukee Bucks are reportedly interested in making a huge splash this off-season by going after one of the hottest names on the market.
Multiple outlets have reported that the Bucks are interested in trading for Bradley Beal, who could get traded this off-season with the Washington Wizards hiring a new front office regime. ESPN’s Brian Windhorst has reported that the Bucks and Miami Heat are at the forefront of Beal interest when it comes to suitors. Due to Beal’s sizeable contract and Milwaukee’s limited assets, the path to a trade is far easier said than done. With that said, let us look at a few deals.
First Bradley Beal trade package for the Milwaukee Bucks
This seems like the most popular trade package floater around. To even possibly take back Beal’s $46.7 million salary for next season, the Bucks would almost certainly have to include Jrue Holiday or Khris Middleton. Given just how much chatter there has been about the Bucks wanting to keep the latter as he approaches free agency, Holiday may be the likelier candidate to be moved. Adding in Grayson Allen, who the Bucks have shown a willingness to trade before, helps the team match Beal’s hefty salary, and that first round pick can be the ultimate sweetener.
Not all Bucks fans are on board with trading Holiday. Although he undeniably had a poor showing these past playoffs, the guard can certainly still play at a high level, having been named an All-Star just a few months ago. However, the Bucks must take into account Holiday’s previous comments regarding his retirement when his contract is up, which he made on the Point Forward Podcast. If that is true, the Bucks would have two more years of Holiday. Those comments must make the Bucks wonder if they should go all-in over these next two years or move Holiday to try and keep the contending window open for several more years.
If the Bucks made this deal, they would have Beal under contract for four more years, and at just 29 years old, they likely wouldn’t have to worry about retirement anytime soon. This deal would stretch out the team’s title window by giving them a younger star who has yet to turn 30 while giving up two starters and a pick.