The Milwaukee Bucks are starved at the small forward spot. NBA insider Jake Fischer (subscription required) reported a possible solution they could explore to help patch that, saying that the Miami Heat are willing to trade Andrew Wiggins in the right deal. The former NBA Champion would be a seamless fit in Milwaukee, but Miami likely doesn't want to do the Bucks and favors currently.
Heat would love to trade Wiggins to the Bucks... For Giannis
If the Milwaukee Bucks inquire about any Heat players, Miami will ask for Giannis. While the Bucks have reportedly drawn a line in the sand and are not taking calls on their star, that will not stop the rest of the NBA from asking. If the Bucks turn them down, the Heat won't have much motivation to make any transactions with Milwaukee.
Miami would much rather wait things out and see if Giannis does request a trade from the Bucks in the near future. Amid an unimpressive 10-15 start, the Greek Freak does not appear to be sold on Milwaukee's ability to contend, which has sparked recent rumors. Miami would feel foolish if they traded Wiggins to Milwaukee and he helped them turn things around, keeping Giannis happy.
The one way Miami might be fine with it is if they think Wiggins won't be a needle-tipper for their rival and the Bucks are willing to include a first-round pick. If Milwaukee were to acquire Wiggins and still fall short of expectations, leading to a Giannis trade request, the Heat would then have a first-round pick from the Bucks to offer back to them, which would be useful in any discussions.
Yet, even then, it's still unlikely. The Heat want the big fish right off the bat. At this point, they aren't getting him.
It's unfortunate, since Wiggins would solve a lot of issues for the Bucks. He's a 6-foot-6 forward who has proven he can defend the best players. This season, AJ Green and Gary Trent Jr. have been the Bucks' de facto small forwards, though they are undersized and get picked on at times. Getting a legitimate forward who has a ring could be a shot in the arm.
If the Milwaukee Bucks want to patch their need for a small forward, they will have to look elsewhere. One potential spot is New Orleans. Trey Murphy III and Herb Jones are two names garnering interest on the market, and both would fit in well with the Bucks. Unlikely to be a contender in Giannis talks, the Pelicans may be more inclined to have discussions about a trade in the near future.
Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis.