Creating a mock Bucks, Grizzlies trade based on Bleacher Report's suggestion
By Dalton Sell
The Bucks' POV
The Milwaukee Bucks have seemingly been shopping Bobby Portis for a while now. He's undeniably one of their best current assets, and due to the aforementioned second apron restrictions, moving him is one of their best bets in making a meaningful move. Is this that move? It's undoubtedly not the first one that comes to mind, but it has some upside.
First, Clarke. It's no secret that this Milwaukee team, one of the oldest in the NBA, could use an IV full of athleticism this coming season. The team lacks the necessary explosiveness to combat the young, rising teams in the league today. Clarke, a 6-foot-8 big man, is known for his eye-popping athleticism, leaping out of the gym to catch lobs or swat shots from opponents.
The concern with Clarke is how much athleticism he has after suffering an Achilles tear during the 2022-23 season. He returned to play in six games last season, and he put up respectable numbers, but there are questions regarding how much bounce he has after suffering an injury like that. If the 27-year-old has retained that athleticism through the rehab process, he becomes more interesting.
Even if Clarke is still an explosive athlete, he's not exactly a seamless fit in Milwaukee, largely due to his inability to shoot the long ball. He's shot just 28.6 percent from deep for his career. The Bucks have always tried to pair Giannis Antetokounmpo with floor spacing bigs, like Lopez and Portis, to give the Greek Freak more room to operate offensively, but Clarke would not be that.
Speaking of Portis, Pincus brings up a good point in saying that the big man could very well enter free agency next year, and he could be too expensive for the team to retain. Trading him now and getting something in return might not be the worst outcome, depending on the return.
The first-round pick here is what would really grab Milwaukee's attention. It's no secret that the Bucks are running low on draft capital, and this would help them replenish it with a very valuable selection.