Grade the trade: Bucks break up decade-long partnership in bonkers proposal

With the clock ticking on what remains of their championship window, the Milwaukee Bucks find themselves at a crossroads. With a roster already stacked with talent, the pressure to improve can lead to ostensibly drastic measures to further ensure a shot at legitimate title contention in the loaded Eastern Conference.

One such trade proposal from Bleacher Report’s Greg Swartz involves trading longtime franchise cornerstone Khris Middleton to the Golden State Warriors in exchange for Jerami Grant in a three-team swap including the Portland Trail Blazers.

The mock trade between the Bucks, Warriors and Blazers

On paper, this potential trade would send shockwaves through the NBA landscape right off the bat. Middleton, a cornerstone of the Bucks' championship core, has been instrumental in their success. His ability to score, facilitate and defend at a high level has made him an indispensable asset.

However, the allure of a defensive upgrade in Grant, coupled with Middleton's injury history as of late, presents a compelling case for change as the Bucks look to maximize the final years of Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo’s athletic primes.

On the surface, this trade appears to address very specific needs for each team. The Bucks acquire a versatile defender in Jerami Grant to bolster their perimeter — one of their biggest weaknesses since the departure of P.J. Tucker a few years ago — while the Warriors land a proven two-way, three-level scorer in Khris Middleton to make up for the loss of Klay Thompson who most recently departed for the Dallas Mavericks this offseason. On the other hand, the Portland Trail Blazers offload salary and a win-now piece while acquiring relatively young and tradeable assets to continue their rebuild.

However, a deeper dive reveals potential implications and trade-offs for all parties involved. Let's take a look at the trade from each team's perspective.