The Jae Crowder trade is coming back to haunt the Bucks at the worst time

The Milwaukee Bucks have started the 2024-25 NBA season on a sour note, stumbling to a 1-5 record that has many wondering just what went wrong in the past few years.

A team with the firepower of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard isn’t supposed to look this lethargic or this vulnerable. Yet, here we are, watching as the Bucks’ lack of energy, athleticism and defensive sharpness gets exposed night after night.

While fingers are pointed at a number of factors—from Doc River's coaching adjustments (or lack thereof) to individual showings from underperforming bench players—there’s an underlying issue that’s long been looming over the franchise like a specter: the Jae Crowder trade.

Milwaukee's trade for Jae Crowder haunts them to this day

When the Bucks orchestrated the trade for Jae Crowder back in early 2023, it seemed like a move that could pay off big in the short term. Crowder’s reputation as a tough, defensive-minded wing who could stretch the floor, score from all three levels and bring postseason experience was exactly what the Milwaukee Bucks wanted for their championship push.

The Bucks ended up parting ways with five second-round picks in total, which included picks that changed hands with both the Nets and Pacers, as well as second-round picks through 2029.

At the time, it looked like a solid deal. After all, if you have the chance to go for players to win you a championship in this league, you take that chance every time.

As fans saw, though, months rolled by, and Crowder’s contributions remained meager and lukewarm. Father time was very clearly hitting him hard, as he'd put on a bit of weight, while his shooting touch and defensive tenacity weren't as effective as we'd seen before. Then he got injured and hasn't been the same player since.

It was perhaps only then that the real cost of that trade began to reveal itself. When Milwaukee sacrificed valuable draft capital to secure Crowder, they also essentially shipped what little remained of their flexibility for future moves. Now, in the early stages of a season that’s exposed their age and lack of vigor, that decision is starting to sting.

Crowder finished out his Milwaukee Bucks tenure with averages of 6.2 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists on just 42.2 field goal percentage.

After trading away all its draft capital, Milwaukee is stuck without options

The Milwaukee Bucks’ current struggles aren’t just about losing a few games; they’re a symptom of deeper issues. The team’s average age skews older, with veterans like Brook Lopez (36) and Khris Middleton (33) no longer able to log heavy minutes at peak athleticism. The arrival of Damian Lillard was meant to give the Bucks an offensive juggernaut, but even he can’t make up for the slow-footed rotations and lack of defensive prowess around him.

It's clear at this point that the Bucks could desperately use a shot of youth and energy—a high-flying, versatile wing or a young big who can protect the paint and switch onto guards.

In their first five games, the Milwaukee Bucks have posted a net rating of minus-7.0, ranking them 25th in the league. In each of their losses to underhanded and ostensibly lesser competition, Milwaukee is getting beaten to spots, failing to close out on shooters and getting run out of the gym by younger, more athletic teams.

Here’s where the trade assets come into play. Because of Milwaukee's severely depleted draft stash, making a deal that could bring in fresh legs is significantly harder. The front office, as it stands, simply does not have the draft capital to sweeten potential trade deals, limiting their options to bring in youthful contributors who could help right now.

Teams that might be willing to part with promising talent are looking for more than just expiring contracts—they want future picks, the currency of hope in the modern NBA. That’s currency the Milwaukee Bucks don’t have.

The effects of the Crowder trade ripple through every corner of the Bucks’ front office. Trade talks that could bring the Bucks energetic young wings or rim-running bigs stall out because Milwaukee’s trade package lacks the key elements needed to get a deal done.

While other contending teams manage to find ways to add depth without mortgaging their future, the Milwaukee Bucks’ cupboard is bare when it comes to enticing future assets.

The way forward for Milwaukee is investing in its young players now

Fortunately, the Bucks still do have talent. Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard are a formidable duo, and Brook Lopez, despite being 36, remains one of the best rim protectors in the league. But to compete in a league where teams are younger, faster, and more versatile, Milwaukee will need to think creatively.

That could mean leaning into development minutes for someone like Andre Jackson Jr., banking on his athleticism and defensive instincts, or exploring the buyout market midseason to add some spark.

The harsh reality, though, is that their current predicament is partly self-inflicted. The Crowder trade—though understandable at the time—has left them strapped for trade assets at a moment when a deal could genuinely transform their season. It’s a haunting reminder that in the NBA, even the most seemingly minor transactions can have long-term consequences.

Milwaukee’s season isn’t doomed. It’s only six games into an 82-game marathon, and there’s plenty of time to adjust. Yet, if the Bucks want to avoid becoming just another cautionary tale of an aging contender, they’ll need to find a way to inject the energy and athleticism they sorely lack.

Unfortunately, thanks to a past trade that’s come back to bite them, finding that boost will be a much tougher challenge than it needs to be.

The Bucks are on the clock, and without those missing assets, they’ll need to rely on grit, coaching ingenuity and maybe a little luck to turn things around. Otherwise, this could be the season where one ill-fated trade defines their trajectory.

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