The Milwaukee Bucks executed the largest trade of the summer, sending Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Miami Heat. In return, the Bucks got back Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kel’el Ware, and Kasparas Jakucionis. Of the bunch, Herro and Jaquez seem like the most likely to be trade targets this summer, and a Jaquez trade may be the most intriguing.
Jaquez is going to be on a $5.9 million expiring contract this season. He is 25 years old, and if he plays well enough, he could be a part of what the Bucks want to do moving forward. But he’s more of a high-level role player. The type of guy who can help a championship-caliber team in a role as the fourth or fifth-best player. Maybe even sixth-best.
That’s why the Bucks should consider trading him this season. Could he be part of their long-term rebuild? Perhaps. But if they can sell him for one or more firsts, it would be better for them in the long run.
Bucks should trade Jaime Jaquez Jr. by the deadline
Last year, Jaquez took a leap. He was one of the leaders for the Sixth Man of the Year award, and there’s a real argument to be made that he should have won it over Keldon Johnson.
He was one of the top scorers on the Heat, and his ball-handling – especially in the full-court – was a real weapon for them. He’s a two-way force, a capable offensive creator, and an impressive driver when getting downhill.
His ability to make an impact on both ends of the court should make him a very intriguing trade target for a ton of teams around the league. Especially teams trying to contend for a championship.
Plus, with how little money he is set to make next year, almost any team in the NBA could trade for him. That type of contract is super easy to trade for no matter the situation (pretty much).
That’s where the Bucks can take advantage of things. If they can find the right team willing to pay the right price, the trade package they would get in return would far outweigh the value Jaquez himself brings to them.
They don’t need a high-level role player right now. They don’t need a guy to play well enough to be a fourth-best player on a great team. They need enough shots to land the top-end guys to leave them into the future.
Perhaps, by the deadline, a team could be willing to shell out a first (and more) to land Jaquez if they believe he can be a part of their future.
At that price point, Milwaukee should pull the trigger. Those are assets that can help it build the next championship-caliber team.
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