There has been a real turnaround for the Milwaukee Bucks lately, as they booked their place in the NBA Cup semifinals on Tuesday. This hasn't stopped the team from being in trade rumors to freshen up the roster and give them an even better chance at winning a championship in 2025.
Khris Middleton's return has perhaps put a slight halt to these rumors, along with the team's overall performance; they sit sixth in the Eastern Conference with a 13-11 record after a 2-8 start. There is still the opportunity for the Milwaukee Bucks to make a move as the rest of the league starts to take form, allowing teams to see themselves rebuilding and become more willing to part ways with talent.
Let's take a look at three mock deals for the Milwaukee Bucks' most available assets.
Bucks trade Bobby Portis for defensive help in the frontcourt
Bobby Portis started the season so poorly to the point of almost being unplayable. He deserves credit as recently he has turned it around with two 20-plus point performances. Yet, he is still the most available asset on the Bucks, and other teams would likely be willing to listen to offers that include him.
Robert Williams III has been a target for many teams since heading to Portland, as he provides brilliant rim protection and is versatile defensively. When Giannis Antetokounmpo and Brook Lopez sit, the Bucks struggle with interior defense. Williams would bring just that, as he averages 1.9 blocks per game and a steal per game, compared to Portis' 0.6 steals and 0.6 blocks per game.
He has only featured in seven games this season, but Williams is holding opponents to just 35.7 percent shooting from the field, something no one in the Milwaukee Bucks rotation comes close to.
The Blazers are 13th in the West and are in a weird no-man's land because they are not good enough to make the play-in but also not bad enough to be right in the mix for a top pick unless they move players. It could be a straight swap, but the Blazers would also likely ask for picks; nothing more than a second-round pick would be expected.
Offensively, he may not provide the same threat as Portis, but he still scores 9.6 points on 71.1 percent from the field. With star forwards Karl-Anthony Towns, Evan Mobley and multiple names on the Boston Celtics, Williams would give the Bucks much more defensive help to slow those guys down and allow Giannis and Lopez to defend other players.
The only concern would be his injury history, but if the Milwaukee Bucks gamble, it could be huge with the defensive potential he would add.
Bucks add Hornets wing in exchange for Pat Connaughton
This may be a bit tougher to get accepted. Cody Martin is having a solid season for the Charlotte Hornets and is only making $8.1 million and is under contract for the 2025-26 season as well.
Pat Connaughton is making $9.4 million but is now out of the Milwaukee Bucks rotation completely. Adding someone who has played as well as Martin would be a huge boost, and many contenders are likely to be looking at making a move for the wing.
Martin is averaging 8.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.4 assists and a steal on splits of .441/.337/.656 on a Charlotte team struggling near the bottom end of the Eastern Conference. They started the season well behind the lead of LaMelo Ball, but since then, have struggled to stay consistent. They have a 7-17 record, so cashing in on their assets to continue building their young core could be the way to go.
There are two possible concerns with making this deal. The first is that the Hornets may be tempted by other offers that involve more or better draft picks and younger players that can be of use to them in building for the future. Secondly, the Bucks wing position is looking quite solid now with the rise of AJ Green and Andre Jackson Jr., with Gary Trent Jr. also finding his flow as well. Bringing in Martin could create a log jam and force players to lose minutes, but if the Bucks could make a move for him, it feels like he could be a real asset.
There may be easier deals to get across the line involving the likes of the Nets or Pistons, but Martin has been playing so well and could be one of the most hotly sought-after players this trade deadline.
MarJon Beauchamp finally finds a new home in Brooklyn
With MarJon Beauchamp only on a minimum deal, the Milwaukee Bucks wouldn't be able to make a headline move involving him. Brooklyn has made it clear they are willing to part ways with anyone on the roster, and sophomore forward Jalen Wilson has been solid for the overperforming Nets, making him an interesting target.
It wasn't much of a surprise when the Bucks announced they were declining the fourth-year rookie option for Beauchamp. It is confirmed both sides are looking to find the wing a new home. Wilson is 6-foot-9 and provides depth in the frontcourt that the Milwaukee Bucks have shown they struggle with.
The sophomore is averaging 8.7 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists on shooting splits of .430/.345/.875. Beauchamp has featured 11 times for the Bucks this season, with him playing more than five minutes on two occasions. Green and Jackson have clearly taken over him in the pecking order and Wilson's versatility and decent shooting could be a plus for the Milwaukee Bucks.
What may put doubt in the mind of Jon Horst about this deal is the performance of Tyler Smith in the G-League and how he could provide something for the Bucks in time. Adding Wilson just may add a player to take minutes from him.
However, this deal would help Milwaukee now with a guy with room to grow and who is still under contract for next season at $2.2 million. Brooklyn would be able to take a swing on Beauchamp and get another pick to add to their stash.
Horst and the front office haven't been afraid to make moves, and with the Milwaukee Bucks constantly being named in rumors, they must be calling other teams to see what they can conjure up. For now, the roster looks solid, but there are still holes that need fixing.
Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks news and analysis.