Rumors are swirling that Giannis Antetokounmpo's time with the Milwaukee Bucks may soon come to an end. It's not a guarantee, but chatter is gaining traction. If the Bucks do move on, it feels inevitable that they undergo further roster changes, shaking things up to acquire as many assets as they can to set themselves up nicely for the future. Let's analyze a few potential deals that could help.
Bucks end the Myles Turner experiment and look ahead
The Boston Celtics are looking for a center. On a recent episode of the Pat McAfee Show, ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania said, "They've been in the marketplace, trying to go get a big-time starting center potentially. They're going to be aggressive in moving the needle. They've got assets. They've got contracts to play with." The Milwaukee Bucks could be the team to help them achieve that goal.
In this proposal, the Celtics land a big-time two-way center who was in the NBA Finals last season and can help them in their quest to contend. In return, they give up Anfernee Simons, a player they have been aggressively shopping, and upcoming draft picks. In one of the most loaded drafts in years, the Bucks could benefit greatly from acquiring two picks. The expiring salary is also nice.
Bucks trade away a former sharpshooter
Fresh off a strong playoff run, Gary Trent Jr. has completely fallen off this season to the point where he wasn't in the rotation prior to Milwaukee's recent injury woes. Yet, based on name recognition, the Milwaukee Bucks could likely land at least a second-rounder at the trade deadline in a smaller-scale move, as plenty of teams would love to add an established outside shooter like Trent.
While plenty of teams would call, the San Antonio Spurs feel like a natural fit. This season, they are shooting 34.8 percent from deep, which ranks 22nd in the NBA. In today's game, that's simply not going to get the job done. If the Spurs are willing to move a second-rounder in this upcoming draft, they could possibly get Trent, who is a career 38.8 percent perimeter shooter.
Bucks move on from Bobby Portis after years of rumors
The Detroit Pistons are in a rare position because they have a massive trade exception they can use to acquire a player without sending anyone out in return. They would be hard pressed to find a piece who fits better within the salary range of Bobby Portis. The Pistons, who rank 20th in the NBA in 3-point percentage this season, could use Portis, who is hitting 45.8 percent of his triple tries.
As the best team in the Eastern Conference, the Pistons likely don't want to shake up their roster too drastically, but a move or two might not hurt. This particular package allows them to keep their roster intact while sending out draft capital in return. In short, they can beef up their already formidable roster ahead of the NBA Playoffs with a well-regarded sixth man.
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