The Bucks' POV: A defensive upgrade with major offensive concerns
Acquiring Jerami Grant is a clear attempt by the Bucks to address their longstanding defensive deficiencies, even if it's at the cost of a franchise cornerstone. Around the league, Jerami Grant's ability to guard multiple positions and his scoring prowess make him an attractive target. He's also no slouch on the offensive end, as he's built up a generally decent reputation as a scorer around the league, even if he isn't what you'd call a surefire star just yet.
However, trading Khris Middleton, a key contributor to their championship runs, is a significant gamble. While Middleton's injury history is a concern, his offensive firepower and playmaking ability have been instrumental in the Bucks' success.
Replacing Middleton's proven two-way, three-level talent with Grant is a gamble that could backfire if and likely when Grant fails to meet expectations. After all, he simply isn't as proven a bucket-getter. When playoff games inevitably slow down and Milwaukee will need to rely on the shot-creating talent of its third scoring option, it's tough to imagine Grant doing for the Bucks what Middleton has time and time again.
For this writer, that offensive safety net simply isn't worth the slight defensive upgrade you get by trading for Grant.
Of course, that isn't to diminish the very real boost you get on defense, whether inside or along the perimeter. While Grant is by no means a recognized defensive stopper in the association, he's more than capable of holding his own on that end, while Middleton has very clearly lost a step in keeping up with faster opponents.
Besides the one-on-one benefits, there's also the matter of what Grant does for the system as a whole. His regular season tracking data on NBA.com/stats shows he's spent 50 percent of his time guarding forwards, 40 against guards and the remaining 10 taking on bigger centers. It's clear he has the physical tools to defend multiple positions in this league, even if the results have been generally mixed. Against Grant, forwards scored on 53.6 percent of their field goal attempts, while guards were much less efficient on a 45.2 percent shooting clip.
With Jerami Grant's versatility, the Milwaukee Bucks could experiment with various lineups.
A potential starting five of Damian Lillard, Gary Trent Jr., Jerami Grant, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Brook Lopez would offer a potent combination of size, scoring, playmaking and defense. Grant could seamlessly slot into the starting lineup or provide valuable minutes off the bench, bolstering the team's defensive intensity. This also unlocks switchable lineups with Giannis at the center position, which have been the Bucks' secret weapon deep into the playoffs in years past.
You could also, in theory, talk yourself into believing the offensive gap between Grant and Middleton isn't actually that sizeable. After all, Grant did just post norms of 21 points per game while making 40.2 percent of his attempts from distance just a season ago. It should also help team chemistry that Damian Lillard and Jerami Grant already have a season's worth of experience playing together in Portland.
The Bucks could also explore small-ball lineups with Grant at the power forward position, allowing Giannis to play center. This could create matchup problems for opponents and open up driving lanes for Antetokounmpo.
To fully realize the benefits of this trade, the Milwaukee Bucks must maximize Grant's impact. This means integrating him seamlessly into their defensive schemes and finding ways to optimize his offensive role. If successful, Grant could provide the missing piece to unlock the Milwaukee Bucks' championship potential. However, there's an incredibly high chance this move could disrupt their offensive flow and hinder their ability to compete at the highest level.
The Bucks must weigh the immediate defensive upgrade against the potential long-term impact of losing a proven scorer and playmaker. Additionally, they need to consider how Grant fits alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo and the rest of the roster.
Grade: C-