If the Milwaukee Bucks acquire Zach LaVine from the Sacramento Kings, they must try their hardest to bring Keon Ellis with him. Rumors are swirling courtesy of HoopsHype's Michael Scotto that the Bucks have done some due diligence on LaVine. While Ellis wasn't also linked to Milwaukee, Scotto notes that he is one of the most coveted pieces on that roster despite largely being an afterthought for the Kings this season.
The Bucks could target both.
Bucks could beef up backcourt with guard depth
Ellis doesn't have the resume that LaVine does, but he's a nice rotational player. In 80 games last year, the youngster burst onto the scene with averages of 8.3 points, 1.5 assists, 1.5 steals, and 0.8 blocks per game while shooting 43.3 percent from deep. He's a two-way Swiss Army knife who can provide stout defense on one end and complementary shooting on the other.
The Milwaukee Bucks could use a role player like Ellis. His defensive instincts would be very useful in slowing down opposing guards when Ryan Rollins is off the floor. They could also play together and wreak havoc defensively. Offensively, he'd fit right in as a kick-out threat for Giannis Antetokounmpo, who can always find the right man for an open look.
While LaVine is making $47 million this season, Ellis is taking home just $2.3 million, so bringing in the latter would not be a significant financial burden. With a dry market for LaVine, the Bucks could try to finesse their way into getting Ellis as well by agreeing to take on that massive contract only if Ellis is also in the package. Of course, there would be other moving parts as well.
Would Zach LaVine and Keon Ellis save Milwaukee's season? No. The team would still have a sizeable hole at the small forward spot that would need addressing. However, given how poor the offense has been and the sloppy perimeter defense, a 20-point scorer and a stout perimeter defender could be of great use. Now, it's up to the team if they want to go all-in or explore other moves.
As Scotto noted, while the interest is there, no trade is imminent. Jon Horst and the Bucks are surely canvassing the entire market to upgrade this roster. Milwaukee's asset stash is running low, so it is up in the air whether or not they are dangling their prized 2031 first. Are LaVine and Ellis worth that? It's up for debate. Time will tell how the Bucks feel.
Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis.