The Milwaukee Bucks have yet to have had too eventful of an offseason. Outside of the additions of Malik Beasley and Robin Lopez in free agency to accompany a couple of corresponding departures, the team has remained about the same this offseason.
Currently, the team seems content with who they have and wants to continue to try to win a championship with their current core. If they change their mind and decide to shock us all, these are three current Milwaukee Bucks who could be expendable in those trade packages.
Grayson Allen is expendable in trade packages for the Milwaukee Bucks
Grayson Allen would likely be the first to go if the Bucks are exploring the possibility of an off-season trade.
While Allen has done a tremendous job in both of his regular seasons in Milwaukee, the Bucks haven’t got what they’ve needed from him in the postseason. A Bucks team trying to compete for a championship can’t afford to have anybody, especially a key role player like Allen, holding them back.
Bucks fans have gone back and forth on social media about whether or not the regular season truly matters, but the team has proven that it’s not a determining factor of postseason success. Regardless of how Allen or the team performs in the regular season, where the team finishes the season in the playoffs is what will be remembered.
Simply put, Allen must be better in the playoffs to be valued more by the organization and not be viewed as an expendable trade candidate. Allen’s name has been swirling in trade rumors since last off-season, and his failure to contribute in big moments has played a massive role in that being the case.
Bobby Portis is expendable in trade packages for the Milwaukee Bucks
As much as Bucks fans love Bobby Portis, if we’re honest with ourselves, he’s not as valuable to the team as he is to our hearts. Like Allen, Portis has yet to give the Bucks what they’ve needed in the playoffs in the last couple of seasons. Yes, Portis was a significant factor in the 2021 Eastern Conference Finals after the team lost Giannis Antetokounmpo due to injury. Still, in the two postseasons since, he has yet to give the team the same production level.
Portis has been a great sixth man for Milwaukee. He comes in and fills up the bucket while being a spectacular hustle and energy player. Unfortunately, despite his constant effort, he doesn’t have the same defensive ability as some of his teammates.
The Bucks would be able to deal with Portis being a below-average defender in the playoffs if he gave them the same level of offensive production he had in the regular season. Sadly, that has not been the case for Portis, and he has only hurt the team in big moments since their championship run in 2021.
Portis has meant much to the Bucks organization and their fans for the past few seasons. That doesn’t make him untouchable in trade packages, however. Many teams would love to have Portis, including Milwaukee, but if the right package is on the table, Portis is very expendable.
Jrue Holiday is expandable in trade packages for the Milwaukee Bucks
Jrue Holiday is a perfect example of what it should mean to be a Milwaukee Buck. Holiday exemplifies only the best characteristics both on and off of the court. In addition to his play on the court, Holiday has become known for doing great things in the community and being a fantastic teammate.
Holiday, though, is the most likely of the team’s core players to go if a trade involving one of them takes place this off-season. It can easily be debated whether or not expendable is a word that should be used for Holiday in trade packages. Still, if a big offer comes their way, the Bucks would almost certainly listen for the correct offers in a Holiday exchange. Holiday is likely to be moved only if the team receives an offer that completely blows them away.
Holiday, like Allen and Portis, has only made himself expendable because of his lack of offensive consistency in the playoffs. Don’t let the 2023 playoff run fool you. Holiday is still one of the best defensive players in the NBA. He gets into trouble when he fails to bring consistency to the other side in crucial games.
All three players would be eye candy in trade packages. They’ve all done great things in their time in Milwaukee. The last couple of seasons has made it necessary for the Bucks to get more dependability from key players in the playoffs. These three players could help them land a player that provides that if Jon Horst does want to make a splash.
Stay tuned for Milwaukee Bucks news and analysis with the season coming up soon.