It's no secret that the Milwaukee Bucks have been trying to trade Pat Connaughton for the past year in hopes of landing an upgrade. That won't change this summer, as NBA insiders Jake Fischer and Marc Stein (subscription required) have roped Connaughton in with a list of veterans that includes Collin Sexton, Andrew Wiggins, Marcus Smart, Jordan Clarkson, and many more as those being monitored in trade talks across the NBA this offseason.
If the Bucks make a trade, Connaughton is likely the first to go
Connaughton, expectedly, recently opted into his $9.4 million contract for the 2025-25 NBA season. That's a hefty amount to pay for a player who was hardly in Milwaukee's rotation last year, so it makes plenty of sense that they may look to move him for an upgrade. The Bucks currently have just five players officially on the roster, so there are plenty of areas they can explore when upgrading.
So, who might be some targets? Well, just looking at the list from Fischer and Stein alone, there are several who stand out. Collin Sexton would be a great score-first guard who could pick up some of the slack in Damian Lillard's absence. Andrew Wiggins could offer some nice wing defense and perimeter shooting on the wing. Raptors guards Immanuel Quickley or RJ Barrett could help the Bucks commit to a youth-driven approach, something they must embrace this offseason.
They would all require more salary than Connaughton and some added draft capital, but with the Milwaukee Bucks now out of the second apron, they can legitimately explore that. As much as it came back to bite the Bucks in the postseason, the Kyle Kuzma trade does give them some added flexibility to improve this summer, which could undoubtedly be useful. Speaking of Kuzma, he should have also made it onto the list of players likely on the trade block, as it wouldn't be shocking if he got moved.
Connaughton's days in Milwaukee may be numbered. With the second round of the NBA Draft set to tip off in a few hours, who knows, perhaps there could be some movement sooner rather than later. It's been a quiet offseason for the Milwaukee Bucks thus far, but based on their recent history, no one should be shocked if the wheels start turning soon. All eyes are currently on Pat Connaughton.
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