For years, the Milwaukee Bucks have been the clear-cut most aggressive Wisconsin team in trades, but the Green Bay Packers just made a case for themselves. Micah Parsons, a two-time First-Team All-Pro and four-time Pro Bowler, is heading to Green Bay after being acquired for two first-rounders and Kenny Clark. The Packers, who almost never make moves like this, certainly took a page out of Milwaukee's book with this stunning blockbuster deal.
Packers take a massive swing like the Bucks always do
The Milwaukee Bucks are known as one of the NBA's most aggressive teams. They've made massive swings over the years, including blockbuster deals for both Jrue Holiday and Damian Lillard. Doing so has depleted their draft capital and developmental prospects, putting all of the emphasis on winning in the present. With a generational talent in Giannis Antetokounmpo, there is no time to waste.
To their credit, even with their current asset cabinet looking bare, it has resulted in a title this decade, which is the ultimate goal.
Meanwhile, the Packers' emphasis has been on developing their own players and investing in youth. They've been the youngest team in the NFL for several years now, showing patience rather than going all-in every single year. However, in an uncharacteristic move, they've traded for one of the best players in the entire league and handed him an unheard-of contract, making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in the history of the NFL.
Jordan Love, Green Bay's quarterback, might not be the superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo is, but the Packers clearly believe he can lead them to a title, sacrificing future assets to improve current odds. This feels exactly like something Jon Horst, award-winning general manager of the Milwaukee Bucks, would have done.
To be clear, this likely isn't the new norm for the Packers. It feels reminiscent of when the Bucks made the Damian Lillard trade. Milwaukee appeared willing to run it back with their core, but when Lillard's situation remained unsolved months after his trade request, they had a chance to pounce. The same happened with Parsons, who requested a trade from the Dallas Cowboys after contract talks stalled. With no movement on a new deal, it was simply time to move on.
The timelines are even eerily similar, as Micah Parsons and Damian Lillard were both traded just before their respective seasons were about to start.
Time will tell if the aggressive mindset leads to a Packers title like it did for the Milwaukee Bucks.
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