The Milwaukee Bucks absolutely didn't need another guard on the payroll, but they've added one just for good measure. Gary Trent Jr. is signing a four-year deal worth $64 million to stick around with the team he has been with for the last two seasons. The backcourt was already overflowing, but this just makes it even more apparent that someone will likely get traded to get some breathing room.
Bucks have a backcourt predicament
Milwaukee's current guards on standard contracts include Ryan Rollins, Tyler Herro, Kevin Porter Jr., AJ Green, Brayden Burries, Gary Trent Jr., Caris LeVert, and Kasparas Jakucionis. Meanwhile, they're in need of another small forward to really even out this roster that already has 17 players on it—two more than what is allowed during the regular season. Someone is getting the boot.
Ideally, the Milwaukee Bucks would likely want to move Caris LeVert, who was acquired in a trade to help the Detroit Pistons shed salary. At 31, he doesn't exactly fit Milwaukee's timeline and is set to be on an expiring deal. However, as reasonable as that may sound, LeVert may not exactly be in demand after a poor year with the Pistons.
Instead, one of Milwaukee's younger, more productive pieces will likely be on the block. Two strong candidates have to be AJ Green and Kevin Porter Jr. Green is one of the best shooters in the league and is on a team-friendly deal. Contenders would love to have him. Porter is a bucket-getter who also fits into the team-friendly deal category. Both would fetch more attention—and assets—than LeVert.
Bucks still have a Tyler Herro decision to make
From the moment the Milwaukee Bucks acquired Tyler Herro in the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade, there was speculation that they could trade him. That has died down in recent days, but there is still a chance they could flip the guard as the free agent market dries up and teams realize they need a two guard on the payroll.
Milwaukee has to decide whether they want Herro for themselves or if any return they could get for him would be more advantageous. Of course, it all depends on what they are being offered. If a team makes an incredible offer, it would become far easier to trade him, especially with how much they've filled their backcourt to the brim with talent.
It's unclear how they will proceed, but changes will likely be coming to Milwaukee's backcourt.
Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis.
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