The Milwaukee Bucks have been linked to Chris Paul as a player they previously targeted in free agency. Considering Paul is in a public dispute with the LA Clippers that has resulted in the pursuit of a trade being mutually agreed upon, the door is seemingly open again for a deal to be struck.
As the Bucks search for ways to convince Giannis Antetokounmpo to make the Feb. 5 trade deadline his goal instead of Dec. 15, successfully adding Paul could buy them time.
Antetokounmpo has made it no secret that winning is his priority. Unfortunately, the Bucks aren't necessarily checking that box at 10-15. With trade rumors swirling, Milwaukee must find a way to convince its franchise player to hold off on formally requesting a trade—and past interest in Paul suggests he could at least delay the process.
According to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line, the Bucks are among the teams that expressed interest in signing Paul before he opted to pursue a second stint with the Clippers.
"League sources say Paul had interest from teams such as the Bucks, Knicks, Mavericks and Suns, but he was determined to stay as near to his family as possible even after playing (and starting) all 82 games in his lone season as a San Antonio Spur."
If Milwaukee is still interested in acquiring Paul in a low-cost move, then they could convince Antetokounmpo to give them the slightest bit of time to incorporate the future Hall of Famer.
Bucks could convince Giannis to remain patient with Chris Paul trade
In no way is this suggesting that a 40-year-old Paul is ideally equipped to turn the Bucks' season around on his own. What he's proven during his 21 NBA seasons, however, is that he's one of the most intelligent and proficient playmakers in basketball history.
Paul has also ranked among the best in the NBA at maximizing the value of his big men, which at least bodes well for Antetokounmpo and Myles Turner on paper.
With this in mind, it stands to reason that Antetokounmpo could be open to extending his tenure through December and, ambitiously, until February if the Bucks land Paul. It may not convince him to stay beyond the trade deadline, but it can at least buy some time for the front office to make an impact trade before then.
With Paul helping Ryan Rollins run point and Kevin Porter Jr. producing All-Star level numbers, perhaps enough could change in a short window to convince Antetokounmpo that hope isn't completely lost.
Clearly, the Bucks would need to do more than just adding Paul in order to convince Antetokounmpo to stay past the trade deadline. Even internal development can only go so far for a team that lacks the depth or consistency along the wings to truly contend.
A similar concern exists over whether or not Paul would be willing to come to Milwaukee, which became a factor when Fischer reported that the Clippers will work with him on his landing spot.
Thankfully, the Golden State Warriors created an intriguing blueprint when they acquired Dennis Schröder on Dec. 15 in 2024. They opted to trade him later in the season, which the Bucks could offer to Paul if Antetokounmpo indeed requests out.
In the event that such a trade can be negotiated and Antetokounmpo agrees to give it time, then the Bucks could position themselves to make one last move to convince him to stay long term.