1 Factor that adds intrigue to recent Milwaukee Bucks trade rumor

Rumor has it that the Milwaukee Bucks are already active in trade talks.

NBA insider Jake Fischer let it be known that Milwaukee is open to dealing MarJon Beauchamp and may be seeking defensive help in return. Beauchamp, a first-round draft selection in 2022, has fallen short of expectations to this point, failing to take a leap and become a rotation player as many hoped. Now, with this rumor making the rounds, his days in Milwaukee may be numbered.

With the second apron restrictions looming large, the Bucks are pretty limited in what they could get in return for Beauchamp in terms of an impact player. Instead, any deal for the wing would likely be a salary dump to help the Milwaukee Bucks free up a roster spot. While that might not be as exciting as getting an immediate upgrade, the amount of free agent talent on the market could be of interest.

There are a handful of potentially helpful free agent targets for the Bucks

One free agent target plenty of Bucks fans have been beating the drum for is Lonnie Walker IV, who was recently let go by the Boston Celtics. For a Milwaukee team whose biggest weaknesses outside of health in recent memory have been a lack of youth, athleticism and energetic reserve play, adding a known energizer and athletic wing like Walker could certainly beef up this bench attack.

Perhaps the Milwaukee Bucks feel like they could use more ball-handling and defense. There are two solid point guards just waiting for their next call in Markelle Fultz and Dennis Smith Jr. Both would give the team an experienced yet still young guard who can help get a second unit organized and take an amount of pressure off of the Milwaukee Bucks' primary ball-handlers.

Although those are the three most exciting names left, there are still other potential-filled players who could still have something left in the tank, including Oshae Brissett, Lamar Stevens, Reggie Bullock, Jalen McDaniels and even Justise Winslow, who is in Milwaukee's organization at the moment as a likely member of their G-League squad, the Wisconsin Herd.

One route the Milwaukee Bucks should not go down - though it is rumored they do have interest in doing so - is freeing up a spot to re-sign Thanasis Antetokounmpo. Typically, this wouldn't be much of an issue, as they've always brought him on to fill their last roster spot, but he's likely to miss the entire season as he rehabs from an Achilles injury.

While Thanasis is undoubtedly a valued member of the Milwaukee Bucks locker room, handing him a standard contract when there is this much talent still left on the free-agent market would be tough to stomach, especially considering how solid some of those names are defensively.

The Milwaukee Bucks already employ five players who don't see rotational minutes on standard deals in Beauchamp, AJ Johnson, Tyler Smith, Chris Livingston and Andre Jackson Jr. If this Bucks team is going to make early-season moves, it should be to bring in on-the-court impact players, with Walker circled on basically everyone's most desirable targets lists.

It'll be fascinating to see how the Milwaukee Bucks proceed following this recent rumor and whether they ultimately do make a move.

Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis.