Despite down year, Bucks should reignite trade interest in title-winning wing

The Milwaukee Bucks were rumored to be among the most active teams across the league leading up to the 2024 NBA Trade Deadline.

Of the dozen-plus targets they were after, perhaps the most interesting was Golden State Warriors wing Andrew Wiggins. Yahoo Sports' insider Jake Fischer reported that the Bucks were among the teams interested in acquiring Wiggins. Ultimately, Milwaukee did not get Wiggins, instead opting to take a different path by landing Patrick Beverley from the Philadelphia 76ers.

For obvious reasons, the Milwaukee Bucks should reignite that interest.

Andrew Wiggins would be a great fit with the Milwaukee Bucks

Wiggins would be a home-run addition for a Milwaukee Bucks team that has been haunted by a lack of bigger wing defenders over the years. Particularly in the NBA Playoffs, teams with big wings, such as the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat, have taken advantage of Milwaukee's smaller wings and guards, which has been a massive roadblock in their quest for another championship.

At 6-foot-7 with a 7-foot wingspan, Wiggins boasts the size and length to be a terror for opponents, which he has consistently done over the years. He'd give the Bucks the wing defender they've been longing for over the course of several years, patching one of the roster's most glaring holes by adding someone who can hold their own and defend multiple positions at a high level.

Though defense is why the Bucks should primarily be invested in Wiggins, he's also no slouch on the offensive end. Since being traded to the Golden State Warriors in 2019-20, Wiggins has averaged 16.6 points per game while shooting 46.7 percent from the floor and 38.1 percent from behind the arc. Having another scoring threat and creator certainly would not hurt the Milwaukee Bucks.

If the Bucks plan to keep starting center Brook Lopez, which seems very likely, they need to add more perimeter defenders to make his job easier at the hoop. In the days of Jrue Holiday, Wesley Matthews and Mike Budenholzer, the perimeter defenders could slow down scorers and give Lopez time to set himself up for a contest at the hoop. They didn't have that in 2023-24. Wiggins could help.

Now, it must be noted that Wiggins is coming off a down year. He averaged 13.2 points while playing 27 minutes per game, both of which were new career lows. Though that could make him unattractive to some fans, this writer thinks that could make this the perfect time to strike. A one-time All-Star, Wiggins' value is down right now, which could allow the Bucks to snag him at a discount offer.

With a $26.3 million salary for next season, trading for Wiggins would not be cheap from a financial point of view. The likeliest route would be a trade package centered around reserves Bobby Portis and Pat Connaughton. Fischer reported that Warriors coach Steve Kerr was fond of Portis during their FIBA World Cup run with Team USA, which could add some intrigue on their end.

Whether it's Wiggins or someone else, the Milwaukee Bucks need to add a strong wing defender in the off-season to patch one of their prominent flaws.

Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis.