With the NBA free agency quietening down as rosters are being finely tuned, there are many teams still looking at potentially making trades to improve. The Milwaukee Bucks have been quiet lately, and this has led to speculation that the front office may be looking to make a trade. One player previously mentioned was the Atlanta Hawks guard Bogdan Bogdanovic.
Another guard the Bucks could show interest in is Utah Jazz guard Collin Sexton. The former eighth overall pick found himself joining the Jazz last season from the Cleveland Cavaliers as part of the Donovan Mitchell trade deal. Milwaukee are looking to strengthen their point guard position as they don’t have one as such behind All-Star Jrue Holiday. This trade was put together by ClutchPoints writer Quenton Albertie.
Grade The Trade: Bucks target scoring guard in this trade with the Jazz
It has been rumored for some time that Sexton could be available for a trade, as he only featured in 48 games last season in Utah and started just 15 of those. What cannot be forgotten about him though is that in the 2020-21 season, he averaged 24.3 points per game on 47.5 percent shooting and 37 percent from three before injury hampered his 2021-22 season. In this trade, it would see the Bucks part ways with wings Grayson Allen and Pat Connaughton, along with a 2029 first-round pick.
This is an interesting trade proposition as the Bucks look to get younger. Let’s break it down and grade it.
Pros of this trade between the Milwaukee Bucks and Utah Jazz
Adding Sexton to the Bucks would be a huge bonus for the team. He’s a proven player in the league and, at just 24 years old, helps the team get younger, with him also being contracted through the 2025-26 season and being paid just shy of $19 million.
The former Cavalier can be used effectively by the Bucks in many ways, but the two I think would be most prominent are as the sixth man and backup point guard, then playing alongside Jrue Holiday in a backcourt. As previously mentioned, he has proven he can score in the NBA and is a high 30s 3-point percent shooter, which the Bucks are looking to improve on following their struggles in the playoff defeat to the Miami Heat.
With Holiday, Khris Middleton, and Giannis Antetokounmpo being the Big 3, Sexton would add another level of scoring when those guys are all on the bench or work in an effective partnership alongside them. In a backcourt with Jrue, it can allow Holiday to focus on the defensive side more and let Sexton bring the ball up the court and start the offensive sets.
Another pro to this trade is that Sexton is twice the scorer of Allen and Connaughton combined. The two Bucks wings averaged a total of 18 points last season, with them both averaging over 20 minutes per game. Sexton put up 14 points in 24 minutes on 50 percent shooting and almost 40 percent from three with three assists as well. The loss of Jevon Carter to the Chicago Bulls means the Bucks need someone to fill the void, and Sexton can do that.
Cons of this trade between the Milwaukee Bucks and Utah Jazz
For me, this trade feels like it would be a huge plus for the Bucks, but with every trade, there are always cons.
The one concern with Sexton is the injury history. Playing just 11 games in the 2021-22 season and then 48 last season is a concern, especially for someone still so young. Per Fox Sports, there have been a number of times he has missed games due to hamstring issues, and that would be something the Bucks would need to investigate prior to making a trade. The last thing they would want is him playing a big role in the regular season and then breaking down before the playoffs start.
Another con to this trade would be the Bucks having a very small backcourt. I know both Allen and Connaughton aren’t big guards, but at just 6-foot-2, Sexton is very much undersized, and if he and Holiday play alongside each other, any team going to a big lineup will have a significant advantage. We saw this in the series against the Heat, where Holiday was the primary defender for Jimmy Butler and was ultimately undersized. With this trade, you are taking away two solid defensive wings and going smaller in the guard position.
Last but not least, the Bucks are already lacking in the draft picks department and would be giving away their lone first-round pick. The front office needs to be smart with this pick, but if they feel Sexton can take them over the top to win another title, then they could believe it’s worth moving.
The verdict on this trade between the Milwaukee Bucks and Utah Jazz
Now I am a big fan of Collin Sexton, and for me, this deal feels like a great one for the Bucks. With the recent draft selections, the addition of Malik Beasley, and MarJon Beauchamp now heading into his second year, there is a little bit of a log jam at the wing position. We know Khris Middleton will be a starter when healthy, and then there are a good three or four battling for the shooting guard position.
Contractually it works, and Sexton is arguably a better offensive player than Allen and Connaughton combined, and his scoring ability is by far the best of the three players. The concern would be giving up the lone first-round pick for a player that has had some injuries the past couple of seasons and has not played as much as he would have liked. If the Bucks can get him healthy, then this is nothing but a great trade for them.
At 24 years old, he can be a key piece for the team in the coming season under the stewardship of Adrian Griffin. I think the Bucks would definitely consider this deal, and with him still having three years left on his contract, may see it as a steal from their point of view.
The Bucks have got to be clever here with that pick, but for me, this package for Sexton would be an excellent deal for the Bucks to add a proven scorer and also open the door for the young players currently on the roster to step up and have more time on the floor.
BTBP Grade: A-
Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks rumors, breakdowns, and analysis this off-season.