6 Mock deals the Milwaukee Bucks should pursue ahead of 2024 NBA Trade Deadline
By Dalton Sell
With the 2024 NBA Trade deadline coming next month, the Milwaukee Bucks are under a microscope.
Everyone wants to know what the team will do. Though they have one of the best records in the NBA, it's clear that there is still room to grow, particularly defensively. Even with limited assets after trades for Jae Crowder and Damian Lillard over the past year, General Manager Jon Horst still has several pieces he can work with to put together a deal.
That said, let us look at several deals the team could potentially explore.
A mock trade between the Milwaukee Bucks and Toronto Raptors
Bucks/Raptors trade
The Toronto Raptors appear to be embracing a reshaping. With forward OG Anunoby being dealt to the New York Knicks and Pascal Siakam seemingly the next to go, it's not far-fetched to think that many of the other players on this roster could be had. If that is truly the case, there are two particular players that the Milwaukee Bucks should call about.
Jalen McDaniels and Otto Porter Jr. would give the Bucks two lengthy, tall, and versatile defenders. The former stands at 6-foot-9, while the latter is 6-foot-8. Over the past few years, the Bucks have lacked wings with such size to defend players like Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Jimmy Butler. These two would provide some assistance in that regard, fitting in seamlessly.
This deal has incredible upside. McDaniels is a 25-year-old who still has plenty of room to grow as a player but could still make an immediate impact with his intangibles. Porter poses more of a risk due to his recent string of injury issues over the past few years, but as he showed in 2022 as a member of the Golden State Warriors, he can help a team win at the highest level when healthy.
Something else to like about these two players is their salaries. Combined, the two make just about $11 million, making them realistic for the Bucks. A deal involving Pat Connaughton and AJ Green is acceptable from a financial standpoint, and Milwaukee could add in two second-rounders to try and sweeten the pot. This could be the deal to give Milwaukee the versatility they need defensively.