The Milwaukee Bucks continue to chase another championship. Giannis Antetokounmpo is still elite and Damian Lillard gives the franchise a second dynamic star. The duo needs more help. Milwaukee has overcome a slow start to climb to fourth in the East, but they won’t be a serious title contender without making a trade.
Jon Horst is never afraid to be aggressive. Fans have heard the Bradley Beal rumors, and the Bucks are trying to explore ways to upgrade their roster around the challenges their spending restrictions present. It won’t be easy. Milwaukee could open things up by trading Pat Connaughton to duck under the second apron, but finding that deal will only happen if the Bucks acquire an upgrade.
Their biggest problem is Khris Middleton. The veteran wing struggles to stay healthy and can no longer handle a massive workload. That is a problem for a player making $31.6 million this season. Milwaukee has little choice of what to do with the three-time All-Star.
Khris Middleton must be traded before the deadline
The 33-year-old has appeared in just 18 of their first 41 games. He played more than 25 minutes in just four contests. This is after seeing action 88 times in the previous two full seasons. Middleton’s injury history is problematic at this stage and prevents him from producing like an All-Star.
He averages 12.6 points, 5.1 assists, 3.9 rebounds, and 0.9 steals in 23.5 minutes per game. Those would be strong numbers for a role player, but Middleton is paid to be the team’s third star. No team wants a $30 million per season option playing reserve minutes.
The Bucks' immediate path to contention is finding someone capable of dropping 18 points each night, making plays, and defending multiple positions on the wing. Fans hear the Beal and Jimmy Butler rumors, but their options should not stop there. Horst should be calling all 30 teams looking for the best possible solution.
Turning Middleton into an All-Star makes the Bucks a feared playoff opponent. They would need their acquisition to perform like a star to knock off the Celtics, Knicks, or Cavaliers, but those teams would not be eager to see Giannis and Dame in the playoffs. The Greek Freak wants to chase championships and landing a star in a Middleton trade should keep him satisfied in the Cream City for a few more years.
Middleton’s is on an unwanted contract. He will opt-in to his $34 million player option for the 2025-26 season. Whatever franchise acquires him will be saddled with that. It will be an expiring contract and more tradable, but no team wants that much negative money on their books in the second apron era.
The Milwaukee Bucks have work to do before the Feb. 6 trade deadline. They should look to dip under the second apron and must trade Khris Middleton for an upgrade. Those won’t be easy tasks, especially with so many teams in financial crunches. Never count out Horst and the front office. They will make something happen. Stay tuned to find out what.