Though the Milwaukee Bucks roster is capped out at 15 standard players at the moment, the team’s front office also has yet to make any trades this offseason. This has led to some fans speculating that more moves could still be in the works before we can call this roster a finished product.
Even now, trade rumors, especially those involving Grayson Allen and Pat Connaughton in the wake of their now-obsolete roles at the time, abound in Bucks fan circles. Fans and observers alike continue to hope for a better playmaking shot-creator off the bench or another stout wing defender for the playoffs.
Enter one such trade. This one was proposed by FanSided’s Tyler Watts in his recent article for Behind the Buck Pass.
The trade sees Milwaukee giving up a haul of Jae Crowder, Malik Beasley, Robin Lopez, their 2029 first round pick, and a 2024 second round via Portland for none other than the Golden State Warriors’ wing Jonathan Kuminga.
The San Antonio Spurs are also part of this deal, and they give up Sandro Mamukelashvili, who likely isn’t getting much run anyway with the drafting of first-overall pick Victor Wembanyama.
Let’s grade the trade by looking at how the three teams involved are affected.
Grade the trade: The Milwaukee Bucks’ point of view
Jae Crowder just wasn’t the best version of himself this past season. The front office clearly thought he would be a game-changer for the Bucks with his stout perimeter defense and three-level scoring, but Bucks fans saw none of that in the team’s first-round exit against the Miami Heat. Call it age or call it a lack of preparation, but the fact of the matter is that things just didn’t pan out the way we hoped.
There’s no questioning that Kuminga would fit well on the Milwaukee Bucks. He is a young, athletic forward who could help the Bucks on both ends of the court.
On offense, Kuminga is a versatile scorer who can shoot from the perimeter, attack the basket, and finish with both hands. He would give the Bucks another scoring option and could help them space the floor. Kuminga is also a good rebounder, which would help the Bucks on the boards.
On defense, Kuminga has the potential to be a good defender. He is long and athletic, and he has the tools to guard multiple positions. Kuminga would give the Bucks another defender who can switch on screens and guard the perimeter.
The Bucks are a championship contender, and Kuminga would be a good addition to their team. He is a young player with a lot of potential, and he could help the Bucks win now and in the future.
Grade the trade: The Golden State Warriors’ point of view
Kuminga played for the NBA G League Ignite in 2020-21, where he averaged 15.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game.
Kuminga made his NBA debut with the Warriors in October 2021. He played in 70 games during his rookie season, averaging 9.3 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. He wasn’t necessarily a key contributor to the Warriors’ championship run, but all signs pointed to him being a very promising contributor in this league in years to come.
For all the hype surrounding Kuminga following his run with the G-League Ignite, he just hasn’t panned out for the Golden State Warriors in his short time with the franchise. The following season, Kuminga’s average barely increased, and he finished the season with norms of 9.9 points, 3.4 boards, and 1.9 dimes per contest while shooting 52.5 percent from the field and 37 percent from distance.
At this point, it’s not a secret that their front office is keen on the idea of moving him for better players or future draft capital to help keep their core in win-now mode and extend their vaunted dynasty further. Stephen Curry is 35 years old, and Klay Thompson is 32 years old.
As the dynasty reaches its ostensible conclusion, one would imagine that the Warriors need to start thinking about the future, and Kuminga could help that future by landing them win-now pieces or better picks to start over. It’s for this reason that Kuminga was often the subject of trade rumors this summer, even if it still is unclear how available he actually is.
On the other hand, Crowder is a versatile defender who can guard multiple positions. He is strong and physical and is able to play serviceable defense both out on the perimeter and closer to the painted area. He would be a valuable addition to the Warriors’ defense, which has been inconsistent this past season as their two-way players in Green and Thompson continue to age.
Crowder is also a good shooter, both from the midrange and from beyond the arc. He would give the Warriors another reliable scoring option from the perimeter, which would help to space the floor for Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson.
Just like he has with practically every team he’s been on, Crowder could come off the bench as a sixth to seventh man and provide the kind of instant offense and defense that translates to postseason success. In the twilight years of their dynasty, I would imagine this is exactly the type of player the Warriors need as opposed to waiting on Kuminga to develop.
Grade the trade: San Antonio Spurs’ point of view
It’s not the most ideal move for a team like the San Antonio Spurs, but there is an argument to be made that they still could make this trade.
For one thing, they are looking to add some scoring depth as they transition from rebuild mode to winning more games to get their current options to develop into stars. Malik Beasley is a talented scorer who can create his own shot. He would give the Spurs another option on offense, although he doesn’t help their current logjam at the shooting guard and wing positions.
Looking at their needs as it currently stands, the Spurs are looking to add some size and defense. Robin Lopez is a solid backup center who can protect the rim and rebound and would be a good veteran mentor for the likes of Victor Wembanyama and Charles Bassey.
San Antonio is also a young team that is still looking to acquire future assets to continue rounding out its roster and surrounding Wemby with the right pieces to eventually compete for titles in the future. The 2024 second-round pick is a nice asset, and it could be used to acquire another player in the future.
Beasley and Lopez would be good fits with the Spurs’ young core of players. They would provide the Spurs with more scoring options and help them improve their defense.
At this point in their basketball timeline, the San Antonio Spurs are very much rebuilding and looking to develop their young players. While trading for win-now role players doesn’t help them in the former, it should tip the scales somewhat in the latter. And this is the biggest reason why they still could make a move that looks at the very least similar to the one proposed.
Beasley has consistently hovered around the 40 percent mark in his 3-point efficiency while also showing he can occasionally create his own shot off the dribble.
Lopez, on the other hand, is a solid rim protector and rebounder who can also space the floor with his 3-point shooting, which should help Victor Wembanyama, who averaged 27 percent from deep prior to joining the association.
Grade the trade: The verdict on this trade for the Milwaukee Bucks
I would give this three-team trade a B-.
The Milwaukee Bucks are the clear winners in this trade. They get Kuminga, who is a young, talented forward with a lot of potential. Kuminga is still raw, but he has the tools to be a star in the NBA.
It’s important to point out that Kuminga is still very much a young and developing prospect at only 20 years old. He is still learning the game and how to play at the NBA level. He needs time to develop his skills and his game. For Kuminga, a change in scenery could be exactly what he needs to finally put everything together and make good on the potential he demonstrated earlier on in his career.
He is a high-motor player who is always looking to improve. He is also a hard worker who is willing to put in the extra effort. If Kuminga can continue to develop his game, he has the potential to be a key part of any team he lands on.
The Golden State Warriors get some nice pieces in return for Kuminga, and it’s by all means a win-now move. Jae Crowder is a proven veteran wing, who can in theory be a game-changer for a team that felt the absence of guys like Otto Porter Jr. and Gary Payton II in the playoffs a year ago. As it currently stands, Crowder might still be a better player than Kuminga solely because he is more consistent.
The Bucks’ 2029 first-rounder is also a nice asset that can be flipped for another asset that has more guaranteed returns.
The San Antonio Spurs get a good haul of players in this trade, but I don’t think they get the best player in the deal.
Malik Beasley is a talented scorer, but he’s also a bit of a liability on defense. Robin Lopez is a solid backup center, but he’s not a difference-maker. Sandro Mamukelashvili is a promising young player, but he’s still a few years away from contributing at a high level.
Overall, I think the Milwaukee Bucks win this trade solely because they get the most high-upside player in the deal in Kuminga. The Golden State Warriors and San Antonio Spurs both get some nice pieces, but I personally don’t feel as though they get enough in return for someone like Kuminga.
BTBP Trade: B-
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