3 Defensive-minded players the Bucks could target in a MarJon Beauchamp trade

NBA Insider Jake Fischer reported Saturday morning that the Milwaukee Bucks have informed other teams that they have "early interest" in trading MarJon Beauchamp. Fischer said Beauchamp could help the Bucks acquire a defensive minded wing.

MarJon Beauchamp was drafted by the Bucks in the first round back in 2022 as a potential future two-way player and unfortunately just hasn't reached that potential. Not only has Beauchamp had three different coaches in his very young career (Mike Budenholzer, Adrian Griffin and Doc Rivers), but he's also dealt with a lot of injuries.

The combination of these factors has led to the Milwaukee Bucks being ready to potentially move Beauchamp to a team who could more patiently wait on his progress in an attempt to acquire a player that can better help the team during the ever shortening window of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard and Khris Middleton.

Here are three players the Milwaukee Bucks could look to use MarJon Beauchamp to acquire.

Keita Bates-Diop, Minnesota Timberwolves

In his list of NBA intel, Jake Fischer also mentions that the Minnesota Timberwolves are interested in moving veteran forward Keita Bates-Diop. The Timberwolves could accomplish that by doing a one-for-one swap with the Milwaukee Bucks.

Keita Bates-Diop is a 28-year old forward standing 6-foot-8, 229 pounds and has played primarily small forward in his NBA career. Bates-Diop has played for five different NBA teams, most recently the Brooklyn Nets before joining the Timberwolves in the off-season.

Over the course of his six NBA seasons, Bates-Diop has been a respectable defender, averaging a career 115 defensive rating per 100 possessions. In four of those six seasons, his defensive rating has been 113 or lower.

Last season, Keita Bates-Diop allowed opponents to shoot 45.2 percent on field goals, not a terrible number, as it was right around league average.

Also, while standing 6-foot-8, Bates-Diop could help defend the small forward and power forward positions, giving the Bucks another versatile defender to use alongside some of the team's more dominant offensive players.

Bates-Diop averages just 33.3 percent on 3-point shots during his career, so he wouldn't exactly be brought on as a 3-and-D type player but can be a screen setter and finish his open looks.

Keita Bates-Diop makes $2,654,644 for 2024-25, while MarJon Beauchamp is making $2,733,720, so a one-for-one trade would work from a financial perspective.