If the Milwaukee Bucks want to make a sizeable splash via trade, they have to accept the reality that it won't come cheap, literally. With a depleted asset stash after years' worth of transactions, the Bucks will have to take on an unwanted contract or two in any trade to satisfy the other team. Can they find a move like that to help this team get back into contention? That's the question at hand.
Bucks will go star hunting but have to pay a hefty price
Per NBA insider Jake Fischer (subscription required), two targets linked to the Milwaukee Bucks this season are Zach LaVine and Jerami Grant. Both perfectly capture the type of undesirable contracts teams could be looking to dump. While the Bucks may view them as pieces that could be of use, their contracts are overpays.
LaVine, currently with the Sacramento Kings, is making $47.5 million this season and holds a player option worth just a tick under $49 million for next year. Yes, LaVine is a solid player, currently putting up 20.2 points per game while shooting 38.5 percent from deep this season, but that's a lot of cash for a player who hasn't been an All-Star since 2021-22.
Grant is taking home $32 million this season, $34.2 million next year, and has a player option that he'd accept right now if he could for $36.4 million the following year. After a down year last season, Grant has bounced back with averages of 20 points and 2.5 3-point makes per game (career-high), but that is a lot of money for someone who isn't tipping the scale.
Could either player help this team? Yes. LaVine's scoring and sweet shooting could be a perfect complement to Giannis Antetokounmpo. Grant's versatile defense could make it so the Bucks don't have to constantly rely on undersized wings to guard sturdy forwards. However, given how much they would cost and what the Bucks would have to give up, the juice may not be worth the squeeze.
This is the reality the Milwaukee Bucks will have to live with, especially if they are keeping their first round pick in 2031 or 2032 under lock and key. Teams won't want to deal with them right now. They want the Bucks to slip to potentially create a Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes. Yet, based on all of this recent chatter, the Bucks are going to do what it takes to keep their superstar happy.
Taking on unwanted contracts undoubtedly isn't ideal, especially if it doesn't work and the Bucks keep sinking lower and lower in the standings. Then, the team is stuck with a bad contract on top of already paying Damian Lillard's remaining salary. Yet, Jon Horst isn't going to let that stop him. Not when he knows Giannis' future with the franchise is as uncertain as ever.
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