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

Keon Ellis, Sacramento Kings

A mock deal between the Milwaukee Bucks and Sacramento Kings involving MarJon Beauchamp and Keon Ellis was covered at Behind the Buck Pass previously at the beginning of September.

That trade involved Keon Ellis being traded to Milwaukee for MarJon Beauchamp and a 2031 first round pick swap and should absolutely be of interest to the Milwaukee Bucks.

Keon Ellis was suggested as a trade target for the Bucks by Bleacher Report back in late August as a player who could potentially be lost in the shuffle of wings for Sacramento, and that was before the Kings acquired DeMar DeRozan.

Keon Ellis, at 6-foot-6, 175 pounds is the same height as Beauchamp but is about 20 pounds lighter. Ellis was signed as a two-way player in 2022, the same year that Beauchamp was drafted. However, Ellis has had the better career progression, despite appearing in 73 career NBA games compared to 100 for Beauchamp.

Ellis has a 113 career defensive rating in his first two seasons, compared to 115 for Beauchamp. Ellis has, however, averaged 1.9 steals per 36 minutes, while Beauchamp averages 0.9 in the same metric.

Keon Ellis has shown offensive ability as well, shooting 42.2 percent from the 3-point line in his first two seasons. MarJon Beauchamp has shot a decent 35.5 percent from deep in his first two years with the Bucks. That said, Beauchamp has shown in his time that he can handle the ball and slash to the rim offensively, so the Kings may see some value there.

With Keon Ellis representing a defensive upgrade and there not being a significant difference in age (Beauchamp is nine months younger) the Bucks would have to include some sort of sweetener to get Ellis from the Kings, which is where the 2031 pick swap comes in.