Bucks' most desirable trade target is becoming more obvious by the day

In year's past, all of the trade talk surrounding the Milwaukee Bucks has revolved around their need for another stout wing defender.

Although a team can never have too many of those, it appears more and more likely that Milwaukee's main need will not be on the wing as they scout for trades. The rise of AJ Green, Andre Jackson Jr. and Gary Trent Jr. has given the Bucks a fearsome trio on the wing on both ends of the floor. Instead, the Milwaukee Bucks, who are indeed rumored to be making calls, should be seeking a big man.

In fact, to make things easy, the player they should be inquiring about persistently is Portland big man Robert Williams III.

The Bucks should be chasing Robert Williams III

One reason the trio of Green, Jackson and Green has helped revive Milwaukee's season is that the athleticism they bring helps the Bucks keep up with younger, quicker teams. This has helped them become a much better team on defense, as they can actually stick with players rather than struggle to stay with their much younger man. Milwaukee should inject this formula into the center spot.

Brook Lopez is 36 and not as spry as he once was, but he continues to show that he does still have some juice on defense; the perimeter help from these three makes things much easier on him. The odds of the Bucks trading him also seem slim. Instead, if the Milwaukee Bucks want to shake things up at center, Bobby Portis is the main player they will more than likely look to move.

Portis has never been the strongest defender, and it's hurt the team, but it feels more present than ever this season. Part of the reason this is amplified is because Portis isn't having the same impact on offense that he would in years past. He's averaging 13 points on 45.6 percent field goal shooting and 32.1 percent 3-point shooting, all his lowest marks since joining the Milwaukee Bucks.

Ironically, Portis and Williams make a similar financial figure, and a swap could make a ton of sense for the Milwaukee Bucks.

While there were initial concerns about how Williams might look after playing just six games last year due to injury, he has shut those down early. He's having one of his best seasons to date, putting up an impressive 9.6 points, six rebounds, 1.9 blocks and 1.1 steals per game. He looks like the defensive force he was when he was last fully healthy, and a player like that could be huge for the Bucks.

The recently-turned 27-year-old would give the Bucks a jolt of youth, athleticism and defense at the center spot behind Brook Lopez, making the defense even more versatile due to his ability to switch onto players of all shapes and sizes. He simply offers the Bucks more than Portis on defense from an athletic standpoint, and in a league dominated by speed and high-flying athletes, that could help.

Offensively, there are some concerns. Williams has attempted six 3-pointers in seven NBA seasons, so he wouldn't do much to help Milwaukee's floor spacing. Sure, that might make it tough for him to thrive alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo, but it would not be impossible. He could also give the Bucks a nice pick-and-roll partner and general screen-setter for Damian Lillard.

It's still incredibly early in the NBA season, but it's clear that one major weak point for the Bucks has been the defense from Portis. If they want to patch this issue, a call to Portland could offer a unique opportunity. While most of their success will hinge on the stars, the Bucks have found success by relying on a youth movement, and Robert Williams III could play a vital role in that.

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