For years, the most prominent question the Milwaukee Bucks asked themselves when it came to any target was "How well can they shoot from the perimeter?" With Giannis Antetokounmpo commanding so much attention down low, having reliable shooters ready and willing to fire away from distance has always been the go-to formula.
That's what makes Milwaukee's rumored trade interest in Ja Morant so unorthodox, considering he's always been a downright awful outside shooter.
A Morant-Antetokounmpo duo could be the ultimate offensive headache
He's been limited this season, but in his 18 appearances, Morant is shooting 20.8 percent from long distance on 4.3 attempts per matchup. Among players to appear in at least 15 games and average four or more 3-point attempts per game, Morant's success rate is the worst since 1967. He's having the worst perimeter shooting season in decades. For his career, he's at 31 percent.
Trading for him would be a bold move to try and keep Giannis happy (not complimentary).
Like Antetokounmpo, Morant's game has always revolved around attacking the hoop. Once upon a time, Morant was right up there with the Greek Freak as the most assertive paint forces in the entire NBA. Having both of them on the same court constantly trying to throw down a thunderous dunk could be a recipe for disaster.
When the Milwaukee Bucks traded for Damian Lillard, a fellow small guard who has never made waves on the defensive end, it made sense because of the sweet shooting. Lillard has earned his reputation as one of the best long-range marksmen in NBA history. While the Lillard-Antetokounmpo duo never won anything, they largely meshed well due to that dynamic. That's not happening with Morant.
Being a good perimeter shooter isn't the end-all, be-all when it comes to being Antetokounmpo's No. 2, but it would help not to be one of the worst shooters in the NBA.
The only vision that makes sense for a Morant-Antetokounmpo duo is the idea of staggering them as much as possible. The Milwaukee Bucks' productivity has fallen off a cliff when Giannis catches his breath this season. No one has stepped up in those minimal minutes, so the idea of bringing in a star guard who has proven he can run the show has some merit if that's how the Bucks would use him.
Teaming these two stars up would be the ultimate gamble. The Bucks are no strangers to big risks, but this might be their biggest if they go through with it.
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