Amid an unfathomably bad 2-8 start, the Milwaukee Bucks are rumored to be overturning every stone in an effort to find some help through the trade market.
As they call teams, perhaps one recent unfortunate injury could get the wheels turning. OKC Thunder standout Chet Holmgren suffered a right iliac wing fracture and is now expected to miss eight to ten weeks of action. It's a tough blow for the Thunder, who have been rolling to start the season. It's not a given that they seek help via trade, but if they do, the Milwaukee Bucks could offer help.
Here is a mock trade that also ropes in the Portland Trail Blazers.
Milwaukee Bucks' POV
The Milwaukee Bucks desperately need some athleticism in the frontcourt. Younger, quicker big men have hunted Brook Lopez and Bobby Portis consistently - see what Karl-Anthony Towns did in the recent meeting with the New York Knicks. Having two unathletic bigs on the roster has been a recipe for disaster, so adding an athlete who still possesses solid size could give this team a sizeable boost.
One player who could help is Robert Williams of the Blazers. The Bucks know him well from his days with the Boston Celtics, where he was a defensive pest. Though the center does not tower over his opponents, standing at 6-foot-9, that has not prevented him from becoming a strong shot-blocker and overall defensive threat. His electric athleticism has played a massive part in that.
While Williams lacks much punch on the offensive end outside of being a lob threat, he could give the team a solid screen-setter and pick-and-roll partner for Damian Lillard, which could help unlock him in what has been a hot and cold start for the guard. Williams has never been much of a 3-point shooter, which could hinder floor spacing, but the defense could make that easier to digest.
Williams' injury history would certainly make this a gamble, as the Bucks have enough injury woes as it is. Still, if he is indeed healthy right now, which appears to be the case, this could be a nice addition. Also, the inclusion of a second-round pick, their own, in fact, could help sweeten the deal, giving the Milwaukee Bucks more ammunition to possibly make another trade.
OKC Thunder's POV
In addition to Chet Holmgren's injury, the Thunder are also without Isaiah Hartenstein, their splashy free agent signing from this past offseason. They are short on reliable big bodies at the moment, and if they feel like they need to bring someone in from the outside to stay afloat, Bobby Portis would be one of the most reputable names out there.
While Portis is struggling to get his feet off the ground this year, he has earned his stripes as one of the NBA's best reserves, having logged back-to-back top-three finishes in the Sixth Man of the Year race. Why wouldn't the Bucks want to keep a player like that? Simply put, he does not fit the needs of this current roster like he would for someone like OKC with all of these injuries piling up.
Trading Ousmane Dieng could be the hang-up here. The 6-foot-10 forward was the 11th overall pick a few short years ago, and he could be the player to step up amid these injury issues, giving him a shot to showcase his potential. If the Thunder want to see what the 21-year-old can do, that makes sense, but if they want to completely embrace winning now, trading him for an experienced vet is an option.
Portland Trail Blazers' POV
The Blazers are clearly in a rebuilding year, and it would make sense to stock up on as many younger players as possible. Although Williams, 27, certainly hasn't reached his golden years, the thought of moving him for a former top-11 pick who is just 21 years old has to be enticing. Portland could offer Dieng the chance to play more minutes than OKC has throughout his first three years.
For the Blazers, this deal would primarily revolve around Dieng, as Kenrich Williams would be a player used for salary purposes. The forward has yet to play this season due to injury issues, and Portland could choose to reroute him in another deal or simply keep him. When healthy, he has shown some potential for the Thunder. He could be a low-risk addition.
The trade has its positives for all three parties; the chances of it actually happening primarily revolve around how OKC wants to move forward following Holmgren's injury.
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