Captivating trade rumor feels like a gut-punch for Bucks due to new NBA rules

The Milwaukee Bucks are always among the more active teams in trade discussions, which has not changed to start the 2024-25 NBA season.

Rumors say general manager Jon Horst is leaving no stone unturned in his quest to find upgrades for this roster less than 20 games into the year. Another team recently joining the Bucks in the rumor mill is the Brooklyn Nets, though they are reportedly sellers rather than buyers. The Athletic's Sam Amick says the Nets are open to dealing anyone on their roster.

On paper, Brooklyn's Dorian Finney-Smith would be a dream addition to this Milwaukee roster due to his versatility and defensive prowess, but there's one roadblock: the NBA's new rules.

Milwaukee Bucks' perfect trade target is unlikely due to new NBA rules

The Milwaukee Bucks are a second apron team financially. That restriction means plenty of things, but on the trade front, it means the team cannot aggregate salaries in a deal. Unlike in years past, like when they traded three players for Jae Crowder, the Bucks can now only trade one player at a time while also not taking back more money than what they are sending out.

That makes it awfully difficult to piece together a hypothetical Dorian Finney-Smith deal.

This season, Finney-Smith is making $14.9 million. Looking at Milwaukee's likeliest trade assets, there is no match for that. Bobby Portis is making $12.6 million, Pat Connaughton is making $9.4 million and MarJon Beauchamp is at $2.7 million. To get Finney-Smith, the Bucks would have to consider trading away Khris Middleton ($31.6 million) or Brook Lopez ($23 million). In this situation, that seems unlikely.

In years past, the Milwaukee Bucks likely would have been all over Dorian Finney-Smith, but this new restriction will likely cross him off their trade wish list. It stings, given just how well he would have fit in with this Milwaukee team due to his defense. He may have been a P.J. Tucker in 2021-esque addition to this current roster.

While Finney-Smith may be off the board, there is one other Brooklyn Net the Bucks should put in a call about: Ziaire Williams. The 6-foot-9 forward would give the Milwaukee Bucks another forward who possesses impressive athleticism and defense. Furthermore, he just turned 23, so he could play a key part in the recent youth movement sneaking its way into Milwaukee's rotation.

On the books for $6.1 million this season, Williams is also much more within the realm of affordability than Finney-Smith for the Milwaukee Bucks. He wouldn't be the splashiest addition like Finney-Smith, but Williams could still certainly help.

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