No matter how this season ends, the Milwaukee Bucks will certainly be active on the trade market this coming offseason.
With connections to names like Jimmy Butler and Zach LaVine at the NBA Trade Deadline, it wouldn't be shocking if they made a run at another well-known player. Bleacher Report's Greg Swartz thinks a player who could make some sense is Paul George of the Philadelphia 76ers. He proposed this deal in a recent article:
The Milwaukee Bucks' POV on this trade:
With Khris Middleton gone, the Milwaukee Bucks don't exactly have a Big 3. Kyle Kuzma has been a nice addition, but he hasn't elevated himself into that third spot next to Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard. Milwaukee's front office has shown they aren't afraid to add stars in the past, and they could do so once again if they were to pursue Paul George, forming another star-studded Big 3.
On paper, George would fit well with Antetokounmpo and Lillard, which is because he'd be filling in the role Khris Middleton had been playing during the last two years. George could be the complementary shot-maker and facilitator to take pressure off of the top two superstars, and he's still got some juice defensively to beef up Milwaukee's perimeter efforts.
While that all sounds great, George clearly hasn't been himself after inking a four-year deal worth over $211 million this past offseason. He looks nothing like the All-Star he was over the prior two seasons, with his scoring dropping down to 16.2 points per game this season after being over 22 in each of the past two years with the Los Angeles Clippers.
Part of that has to do with injuries, as George has only played in 41 games this year, and he is also consulting professionals on his knee and groin injuries, which could lead to him missing even more time due to a procedure, per ESPN's Shams Charania. Injuries have been frequent for George, who has only played in more than 56 games once since the 2018-19 NBA season.
Part of the reason the Bucks moved on from Khris Middleton was due to his injuries piling up lately. Would they really trade for another star who has battled the injury bug consistently over these last few seasons? The major reason it feels like they were willing to trade Middleton for Kuzma was due to the durability he's shown in his career. The best ability is availability when you are trying to contend.
As for the outgoing pieces, the Bucks would trade Kyle Kuzma and two players they were shopping this season in Bobby Portis and Pat Connaughton. The latter two could certainly be shopped again, and the rest of the season could dictate Kuzma's future in Milwaukee. The Bucks wouldn't be gutting a significant portion of their roster, but many would argue George is not the player they need.
With three years and $162 million left on his current contract, the Milwaukee Bucks would be taking quite the gamble here. If George continues to regress, they would be stuck with one of the league's worst contracts over the next several years. They'd be banking on him returning to form and forming quite the Big 3 in Milwaukee. That gamble just might be too big, though.
Bucks' Grade: C-
The Philadelphia 76ers' POV on this trade:
This one is simple. If George continues to miss time, Philadelphia very well may do whatever they can to get off George's mammoth contract, even if it means attaching draft capital. Bringing in players like Kyle Kuzma, Pat Connaughton and Bobby Portis would give them more financial flexibility due to the timeline on their deals, and those are three players who could help or be flipped again in other deals.
If they are indeed trying to move George, attaching two second round picks to him in a deal is far from the worst move. At this stage, many would consider George a negative asset due to that big contract, so Philadelphia will have to give up more assets to even get other teams on the phone. Some teams may even ask for more, especially if George's DNPs continue to pile up as the season winds down.
76ers' Grade: B
Final thoughts
Unless Paul George has some storybook resurgence down the stretch, the Milwaukee Bucks should avoid any pursuit of him this offseason. One could argue that injuries are the reason for Milwaukee's downfall each year since their 2021 title, and adding another player who has been as banged up as George certainly wouldn't help the cause.
The Milwaukee Bucks would simply be banking on George's health. When you're a contender with one of the best players in the world and another co-star who is great, you need to maximize your window. This scenario would present a pretty big gamble where the risk likely outweighs the reward. Again, sure, there's a chance George could return to form, but it's simply just a chance at this point.
Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis.