After their eventful summer, it made sense to wonder whether AJ Green fit into the Milwaukee Bucks' short and long-term plans. The backcourt was absolutely loaded, and Milwaukee handing Gary Trent Jr. a significant raise made Green somewhat expendable. Yet, the Bucks kept him, and it may already be backfiring as his role slowly shrinks, decreasing his value if they do decide to trade him now.
Green had more value over the summer
Had the Milwaukee Bucks explored a Green trade over the summer, they would have gotten plenty of calls. Perimeter shooting will never go out of style. Last season, the guard averaged 10.4 points while knocking down 41.9 percent of his triples on 7.1 attempts per game. That sweet shooting helped him set the franchise record for 3-pointers made in a season. His value was at an all-time high.
With a four-year extension worth $45 million set to kick in, Green was also on a respectable contract, making him all the more desirable. Contenders looking for another perimeter threat would have loved to get him at that price.
Although Green still has value, it's certainly not as high as it was in the summer, as he's off to a slower start with the Bucks this season. He's actually shooting a career-high 43.4 percent from deep, but his attempts are down to just 4.4 attempts per game. His playing time has diminished in November, with his last four games seeing him log 24, 18, eight, and eight minutes.
In Milwaukee's latest loss, a bout with the Los Angeles Lakers, Green didn't even check into the game until the fourth quarter, when things had already been decided. There simply might not be room in the new-look rotation for the two guard, making him a possible trade candidate, something that probably should have been on the table already over the summer.
Green's story might not be over yet
Taylor Jenkins' rotations have been all over the place. He's still trying to figure out who fits where, as evidenced by him bringing Jaime Jaquez Jr. off the bench despite his success as a starter. Green is on the outskirts of the rotation for the moment, but with the way things are changing daily, he could log 30 minutes in the team's next game. There's no telling.
However, if this current trend of his minutes decreasing continues, it only makes sense for the Bucks to at least explore the trade market. Rather than not utilizing one of the best marksmen in the NBA, getting something of use—whether it's draft capital, a young player, or a combination—would make perfect sense for Milwaukee.
Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis.
Add us as a preferred source on Google