The Milwaukee Bucks are reaching the stage at which trade rumors will run rampant until the deadline has passed. Milwaukee has fallen below .500, the cast of shot creators is thin and underwhelming, and Giannis Antetokounmpo is running out of reasons to remain loyal.
With their backs against the wall, the Bucks have reportedly expressed interest in polarizing All-Star shooting guard Zach LaVine—and with good reason.
LaVine has become a divisive figure with unavoidable talent, a lack of postseason success, and a massive contract. He's owed $47,499,660 for the 2025-26 season and has a $48,967,380 player option for 2026-27 that would undoubtedly limit a team's cap flexibility.
According to Michael Scott of HoopsHype, that hasn't necessarily prevented the Bucks from exploring a possible trade for LaVine.
"The Milwaukee Bucks have conducted background due diligence on LaVine and others around the league, as usual, sources told HoopsHype"
Scotto's report doesn't outright state that Milwaukee is looking to trade for LaVine, but so long as it can keep Ryan Rollins out of negotiations, it's a move worth considering.
Zach LaVine trade makes sense for Bucks—if they keep Ryan Rollins
The ideal outcome would be for Milwaukee to proceed with a five-man core of Antetokounmpo, AJ Green, LaVine, Rollins, and Myles Turner. That quintet would give the Bucks the lineup balance that they've lacked throughout the 2025-26 season.
Clearly, Milwaukee would be financially limited after adding LaVine, but they aren't exactly in a position to make a splash any time soon in free agency.
With LaVine, the Bucks would have three perimeter players who can consistently space the floor and two along with Rollins who can create for themselves and others. That would alleviate significant pressure from Rollins, who has been overburdened in his role as a shot creator and playmaker.
It would also give Milwaukee the type of talent it otherwise lacks: A wing who can consistently score more than 20 points per game with commendable efficiency.
Thus far in 2025-26, Antetokounmpo at 31.2 points per game and Rollins at 18.2 are the only Bucks players averaging more than 13.6. Kyle Kuzma checks in with the latter figure, but he continues to shoot below 30.0 percent from beyond the arc and thus limit Milwaukee's offensive versatility.
With LaVine, who has averaged as many as 27.4 points per game and boasts a career slash line of .470/.391/.834, the Bucks could finally create the balance they need.
Bucks must decide between decent depth and a great starting lineup
The obvious issue would be the depletion of the second unit, as Kuzma and Bobby Portis would need to be included for financial reasons. A third team or third player would then need to be included to get the deal over the finish line, as well as draft compensation, but they don't have the luxury of being picky.
Milwaukee isn't a few quality players away from competing for a championship. It needs a true needle-mover to come in and take pressure off of Antetokounmpo.
LaVine represents a rare opportunity to realistically bring in an impact talent despite having limited trade resources. Milwaukee's best assets are on relatively low-cost deals that wouldn't necessarily align with what players of the caliber the team needs are making elsewhere.
As such, LaVine is the perfect star to target considering how deflated the market interest is and how desperate the Kings may soon become to get ideal value in return.
Quite frankly, this is a trade that would consist of two teams with their backs against the wall looking to maximize the value their limited resources have. If Milwaukee and Sacramento can strike a deal, they could potentially bail one another out of dire situations.
LaVine may be polarizing, but he's talented, productive, and a surprisingly affordable option who can give the Bucks a realistic chance to advance past the first round of the playoffs for the first time since 2022.