The Milwaukee Bucks received contact from the Golden State Warriors about trading veteran center Kristaps Porzingis, but the Bucks showed no interest, per The Athletic's Sam Amick and Nick Friedell (subscription required). Myles Turner would be the perfect center to fill that hole on the Warriors roster, and with his slow start to the season, the Bucks should be willing to move his big deal and hand the reins over to Kel'el Ware.
Turner's slow start will only hurt his trade value
It was a surprise when the Bucks made the move to bring in the big man after his NBA Finals run with the Indiana Pacers. He still has three years of his four-year, $108 million deal left, and his production is not making it easy for teams wanting to bring in an expensive deal.
To start the season, Turner is averaging 7.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks, with shooting splits of 36.7/23.5/100. It's just four games, but that is less than ideal for the second-highest-paid player on the roster.
Taking Porzingis on wouldn't be a basketball move, and the hope would be that the Warriors add draft capital, as the center is rethinking his basketball career while he continues to battle postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS). With Milwaukee's cap room and an obvious replacement in Turner, that makes them a dream trade partner.
Turner is still 30, and he would fit perfectly into the Warriors' scheme on both ends of the floor. However, if his slow start continues, the Bucks will find themselves in a very difficult spot to get a good return in terms of draft capital. It's the tough position of taking an early offer or waiting and hoping to maximize the player's value and then receive a greater return.
Kel'el Ware would be the big beneficiary of any deal
Ware was the blue-chip prospect the Bucks were hoping for in any Giannis Antetokounmpo trade, and he is certainly showing that already. A strong preseason has carried over, with Ware averaging 13.3 points and 8.5 rebounds on splits of 56.8/25.0/66.7 in less than 20 minutes per game.
He has yet to start a game, and it is clear the Bucks like Turner for his leadership and that he can still be valuable despite the slow start. The front office did a lot to bring Turner in by waiving and stretching Damian Lillard's contract, so that amount of investment may mean they won't move on yet.
Despite the slow start, the Bucks have shown plenty of positives in the opening games, and Ware is certainly one of the big positives. He can learn from Turner, but it feels like that starting spot may go to the former Heat big, given how his season has kicked off. If Milwaukee does move Turner, Jericho Sims and Pete Nance are also serviceable backups behind Ware, but letting the handbrake off with him may see another level of play.
Golden State may circle back later on in the season as they continue to maximize the final few years of Stephen Curry's prime. If the Warriors were to offer a decent amount of draft capital along with Porzingis for Turner, the Bucks should really contemplate that offer, with the opportunity to unleash Kel'el Ware in the starting five.
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