For several years, the Milwaukee Bucks have been one of the oldest teams in the entire NBA.
In the past, that wasn't shocking for a contender; boatloads of experience on the big stage was an incredibly valuable tool. However, in today's NBA, the young teams are starting to find ways to be the premier contenders. With their youth, speed and athleticism, these energetic squads are proving to be a thorn in the side of older contenders, such as the Milwaukee Bucks.
That is exactly why plenty have pleaded for the Bucks to get younger. With most of the roster's core components around Giannis Antetokounmpo well above the age of 30, the idea of getting younger to extend the title window with the Greek Freak and keep up with the younger teams is easily justifiable.
Though the latest rumors that they hold trade interest in 35-year-old Jimmy Butler do not help in that regard, the star could help elsewhere.
Jimmy Butler wouldn't make the Bucks younger, but he'd help elsewhere
Since parting with Jrue Holiday in the Damian Lillard trade, Milwaukee's perimeter defense has been far from formidable. Though the recent rise of young players like Andre Jackson Jr. and AJ Green has helped somewhat, this team still has plenty of issues on that side of things. Trading for an all-world defender like Jimmy Butler could certainly help in that regard.
Butler, a five-time All-Defensive honoree, has proven in the past that when he's dialed in, he's one of the best defenders in the world. He would unquestionably be one of the best wing defenders on the Bucks' payroll in years, as he is someone who can take on the toughest matchup nightly. A player like that would be huge against the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers of the world.
Trading for the wing could also make life much easier for Damian Lillard. The Bucks have consistently tried putting defenders next to him in the lineup to take pressure off of him on that side of the court, but none of them as reputable as Butler. These two would be a lethal one-two punch, and that goes without even factoring in the two-way excellence of Giannis Antetokounmpo.
A Butler trade would make the Milwaukee Bucks more formidable in the short term, but it wouldn't do much for their long-term question marks. Given just how precious every year is as long as the Bucks employ Giannis Antetokounmpo, they certainly aren't prioritizing five, ten years down the road. If they think a move can be impactful right now, they will do it.
That's what makes all of this Jimmy Butler trade talk to interesting.
Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis.