The Milwaukee Bucks currently do not have a solidified backup point guard under contract, despite the roster being full with 15 standard players.
Although General Manager Jon Horst recently said in an interview with The Athletic’s Eric Nehm (Subscription required) that he feels good about the roster as is, adding a backup point guard may certainly be beneficial for a contending squad. With the roster full, they cannot sign anyone, but a trade could undoubtedly happen. With all that said, let us look at three trade packages that would see the Milwaukee Bucks land a backup point guard quickly.
A Milwaukee Bucks’ trade package for Delon Wright
Delon Wright has been a respectable backup in the NBA for a long time now. He’s bounced around quite a bit, and with the Washington Wizards making moves like crazy this off-season, he could be on the move once again if the right deal arises. For teams like the Milwaukee Bucks seeking a new backup point guard, Wright is a serviceable name who could help.
On the court, Wright would provide scoring, facilitating, and defense. For his career, he’s averaged 7.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.2 steals per game. At 6-foot-5, he’s got solid size for a point guard and can hold his own defensively against other guards when asked. Wright would fit in seamlessly alongside Milwaukee’s other core pieces and make for some interesting lineups.
As for the package itself, it’s a straight-up one-for-one swap. Grayson Allen has been a fine player for the Bucks over the past two seasons, but they could look to move him for a player who plays a position of need. Trading Allen could free up minutes more MarJon Beauchamp, Malik Beasley, and the other new guys from the 2023 NBA Draft class.
A Milwaukee Bucks’ trade package for T.J. McConnell
T.J. McConnell has been a thorn in the side of the Milwaukee Bucks for the past few seasons as a member of the rivaling Indiana Pacers. He always seems to turn it up a notch whenever he plays the Bucks, and one way to eliminate that problem would be by bringing him aboard. That would knock out two birds with one stone, as they’d also be adding a strong backup floor general.
McConnell is a do-it-all type of reserve. Unless he’s playing the Bucks, he won’t put dazzling points up every single night, but he’s capable of going for double digits whenever. He’s also a nice passer, having averaged five assists for his career. Defensively, he’s a competitor. At 6-foot-1, he’s smaller than other guards, but he’s a pest and can make the game challenging for his opponents.
The 31-year-old would fit in seamlessly with the Bucks. When Jrue Holiday heads to the bench for a breather, McConnell could instantly come in and take over ball-handling duties. If the Bucks want to roll with two point guards, Holiday can slide to the two and let McConnell lead the charge. They would make for a strong tandem defensively, without question.
To absorb McConnell’s $8.7 million salary for next season, the Bucks could straight up swap him for Grayson Allen. The Pacers would almost undoubtedly want more than just Allen, so perhaps the inclusion of a second rounder could be enticing. These two franchises have a recent history of trading with one another, and they should look to continue that trend here.
A Milwaukee Bucks’ trade package for Cameron Payne
After reviving his NBA career with the Phoenix Suns, Cameron Payne was recently traded to the San Antonio Spurs. HoopsHype’s Yossi Gozlan noted recently that most of the Spurs’ veterans seem expandable right now, so they could potentially be had via trade. Payne would be a quality acquisition to the Milwaukee Bucks’ backcourt as they potentially seek another ball-handler.
Over the last four seasons in Phoenix, Payne has averaged 9.8 points and 4.2 assists while hitting 38.4 percent of his 3-point attempts. He’s not the strongest defender, but as shown in the picture above, he competes no matter who he’s matched up against. He’d certainly make for a nice backup for Jrue Holiday due to the scoring, shooting, and facilitating. At 28, he’s still fairly young as well.
It’s unclear if the Spurs would want Grayson Allen. Currently, the Spurs have too many players on standard deals, so some cuts will have to be made before the season. This deal would allow them to move on from one player while adding a pair of picks. The Charlotte Hornets, who will be aiming to contend next season, could bring in a solid guard in Allen for a pair of second rounders.
Meanwhile, the Milwaukee Bucks would get their new backup while also freeing up more minutes for the younger players on the wing.
Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis and trade breakdowns this NBA off-season.