The Milwaukee Bucks have had rumors circulating recently about potential trade targets to look at in the upcoming NBA season. They haven’t made a move this off-season bar trading during the draft in order to select Andre Jackson Jr.
Following their first round exit in the playoffs, one of the areas the Bucks will look to improve is their backup guard position. Having lost Jevon Carter, this is a big void that hasn’t been filled yet unless the organization feels one of the young guys added can take on that role.
Recently, ClutchPoints suggested a trade for a FIBA World Cup hero who I am a big fan of. However, and without wanting to give up the grade for this trade, it is wild, and I don’t think it will even be considered with these terms.
The trade between the Milwaukee Bucks and Toronto Raptors
This trade was proposed by ClutchPoints and granted they do say the idea is “far-fetched” which is quite polite I think. Now I am a big fan of Dennis Schröder, and he can be a real asset off the bench for a championship-contending team.
This trade is just crazy though. It would see the FIBA World Cup MVP lead the second unit and also be effective in crunch time. The Bucks would then send Pat Connaughton and MarJon Beauchamp to Canada.
Connaughton is one of the first names off the bench for the Bucks, and his rebounding and scoring were key in the 2021 title win. Beauchamp is someone that the front office has real high hopes for and is someone that the fans would love to see get on the court more this season.
It would fill the void of the backup point guard position for the Bucks, but it would take a lot for them to give up this sort of package to add a bench player. It should be noted that the guard cannot be traded until December 15 at the earliest due to signing a contract this past off-season.
With the details out of the way, let’s take a closer look.
The Milwaukee Bucks’ perspective on this trade with the Toronto Raptors
Now, I don’t want to be rude, but come on. This trade just isn’t happening from the Bucks’ point of view.
Yes, they do need a backup point guard, but there are better trades that will be out there for similar levels of player to Schröder and for Milwaukee to give up much less. The clear thing here is that both the fans and it feels like the organization are incredibly high on MarJon Beauchamp and that he can be a great piece for the future of the team. They won’t give him up to get a veteran to come off the bench.
Pat Connaughton is one of the first players off the bench for the Bucks and his energy at small forward and ability to score from all over the court is valuable to the Bucks and he is always reliable for a big game here and there. Beauchamp as mentioned impressed last season and will look to see more minutes under Adrian Griffin this season.
Schröder is definitely someone who can fill the hole at backup point for the Bucks and may have been someone they looked at before he signed a two-year $25.4m contract with Toronto. This makes it slightly harder to make a move for him as now the contracts need to match up and it may be something the Bucks look at later on in the season depending on the Raptors’ season.
As a player, we know what Schröder does well. Great to lead a team from the bench and is incredibly experienced now in the NBA. Last season with the Lakers he averaged 12.6 points, 4.5 assists on 41.5 percent shooting from the field. He also was exceptional and deserved the FIBA World Cup MVP award, averaging 19.1 points and six assists as he led Germany to becoming world champions.
I personally am a fan of Schröder and think he would be a great addition to the Bucks, but this trade is a bad one from Milwaukee’s point of view. With Griffin looking to make the team younger, it would be silly to trade away their best young piece for a 30-year-old guard.
The Toronto Raptors’ perspective on this trade with the Milwaukee Bucks
I think the Raptors would seriously consider this trade were it to be offered to them. Yes, they have just signed Schröder, but they still get a rotation player in return in Connaughton and then can add Beauchamp to their young roster as they look to build a core for the future.
It would add a slight logjam for them at the wing position with Scottie Barnes, O.G. Anunoby, Gradey Dick, and then if they do add Beauchamp. That is a lot of minutes that need sharing so they would likely play a small ball lineup at times. Schröder may even start at point for them this season so then they would have to make another move to bolster their guard play as well were this trade to go through.
Last season, they finished as the ninth seed in the Eastern Conference with a record of 41-41, and with their young roster, are most certainly looking towards the future more so than now. One thing they may not like about this is Connaughton’s contract. He has two years left at $9.4m with a player option for the 2025-26 season when he is 33 years old. The Raptors would likely have to move him on or see him as part of their team as a veteran presence for the next couple of seasons.
This may not be the perfect trade for the Raptors due to the positions of who they get in return, but on the face of the players, they would easily win this trade. I just can’t see it happening from the Bucks.
I think I’ve made it pretty clear how I feel about this trade. The Bucks just aren’t going to do this, and I think every fan would be heavily against it even being suggested.
Schröder is someone who can be of use to any championship-chasing team, as he is effective from the bench, but in terms of what the Bucks give up, this is a bad trade. Contract-wise, it is not too bad but would mean giving up someone like Connaughton or Grayson Allen to match the salaries. If a second round pick could be added in order to pry him away, then it may be considered.
For the Raptors, they would add to their young core, but again it also would just create a hole at the guard position and leave them with a plethora of young wings that all need game time in order to progress as players. On the face of it, they would probably accept this trade, but I just cannot see the Bucks even considering moving Beauchamp unless there was a big name, and I mean All-Star level, and use the young wing as a way to convince a team to make a move.
Overall there isn’t too much to say here, but this is a bad trade. Should the Bucks keep tabs on Schröder this season and maybe get him for cheaper? Sure. But this package is not one that should even be considered.
BTBP Grade: F
Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis and reactions to any trades that may go through this off-season.