The Milwaukee Bucks have made it clear they want a young blue-chip prospect as a headliner in any Giannis Antetokounmpo trade. Miami's Kel'el Ware is that. If that is the case, why would they flip him immediately after acquiring him? They wouldn't. Yet, ESPN's Brian Windhorst floated the scenario on the latest episode of The Hoop Collective.
"There'd be quite a few teams that would be interested in Kel'el Ware if he got shipped to Milwaukee, and they were willing to flip him... If I were the Lakers and Kel'el Ware got shipped to Milwaukee, I would be on the phone because Kel'el Ware's package of talent is not that different from Dereck Lively."
No, the Bucks should not flip Ware
If the Milwaukee Bucks do indeed trade Giannis to the Miami Heat, they will get a decent package in return for their two-time MVP. While players like Tyler Herro and Jamie Jacquez Jr. are fine, the true prize would be Ware, the 22-year-old 7-footer who might not be Milwaukee's next franchise star, but still has the potential to be a good player in this league for years to come.
In a rebuilding scenario, Ware is the type of piece the Bucks need to build around. He hasn't played a prominent role with the Heat over the last two years. If Giannis is gone, expectations for contending will be as well. It would be the perfect time to give Ware all the minutes possible and see what he does with them—a la Shai Gilgeous-Alexander when he got dealt to OKC for Paul George.
If the Bucks were to flip Ware, what are they left with? An extra first-round pick? Great, maybe the player picked up with that selection could turn into Kel'el Ware. With Milwaukee's draft record, the odds are not in their favor, though. Any trade with the Heat should see the Bucks keep Kel'el Ware. There should be no ifs, ands, or buts about it.
If Milwaukee trades the best young player in a deal for their franchise icon, heads should roll.
There is another piece the Bucks should flip
While Ware should firmly be in Milwaukee's post-Giannis plans, there is another argument to be had about Tyler Herro, who would be the main piece financially. Even if Herro would give the Bucks a 20-point-per-game scorer, he is 26 and might not fit as snugly in Milwaukee's rebuilding timeline as the Heat's other young players.
Herro's value might be down after a bad year, but he would have some fans across the NBA. Teams whose offense faltered toward the end of the year certainly could eye the former All-Star to add someone who has the tools to help them. One team that immediately comes to mind is the Detroit Pistons, who have made deals with Milwaukee over the years.
No matter what the Bucks have planned, Kel'el Ware should remain in Milwaukee if he is in the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade package.
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