With the Milwaukee Bucks signaling to opposing teams that they are not listening to trade offers for Giannis Antetokounmpo right now, they are going to be buyers rather than sellers. Shams Charania of ESPN reported on Tuesday that a steady slide in the standings could escalate talks between Giannis' side and the Bucks regarding a trade. That means a winning move could help steady the ship.
Bucks will likely explore trade options to beef up roster
Jon Horst is one of the most aggressive general managers in all of sports. He's constantly made it as clear as possible that he will leave no stone unturned to keep this team a contender and also keep Giannis happy. That won't change now. An offseason to get younger and more athletic wasn't enough. He will realize this and act accordingly.
Having made splashes in the past for players like Jrue Holiday and Damian Lillard in past years when there were questions about Giannis' commitment, it won't be surprising if Horst goes after another big fish. With how poorly the team has played this season, the only way he might salvage things is by bringing in a bigger-name player.
So, who is out there? Zach LaVine has been mentioned as someone they've done their homework on. He'd help scoring-wise, but his defense leaves plenty to be desired. Anfernee Simons, anyone? He's likely not moving the needle. If the Bucks make a trade, their best bet may be looking at a pair of forwards down in New Orleans and going after them.
Trey Murphy III and Herb Jones will be two of the most sought-after players on the market after the Greek Freak if they are indeed available. NBA insider Jake Fischer says the Pelicans have shown a willingness to at least listen to offers. With a gaping hole at the small forward spot, the Bucks would benefit greatly from adding either of these players, though it would cost a lot, without question.
The one thing the Milwaukee Bucks cannot do is sit on their hands and hope that things magically get better all on their own This roster is flawed. Ditto for the coaching staff. This group needs changes if a turnaround is in order. Once the trade floodgates open on December 15, it wouldn't be surprising if there was some movement in Milwaukee sooner rather than later.
The future of the franchise is at stake here.
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