The last few days have undeniably been nothing short of chaotic for the Milwaukee Bucks.
Between a coaching fire, a coaching hire, and all of the new trade rumors flooding in, the rest of the season is shaping up to be a roller coaster ride. One of the biggest points of emphasis for the team will be making a move on the trade market to strengthen their lackluster defense, something this team needs if they want to be legitimate NBA contenders.
General Manager Jon Horst certainly understands this, and he's been aggressive in his scouting of the trade landscape in search of help. One target on his radar is reportedly Royce O'Neale of the Brooklyn Nets, per Brian Lewis of the New York Post (Subscription required). This isn't surprising.
Reaction, Analysis: Bucks interested in the ever-versatile Royce O'Neale via trade
O'Neale is someone Bucks fans have had on their radar for a long time, even dating back to his days with the Utah Jazz. The interest makes sense, as he's a versatile wing known for his tough defense and switchability. He stands at 6-foot-6, per NBA.com, meaning he fits the mold of what the Bucks are looking for in a "big wing defender."
Offensively, O'Neale has averaged 6.7 points per game while shooting 38 percent from 3-point range. In Milwaukee, he'd simply be tasked with being a reliable outside shooter, and he'd get plenty of looks playing with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard. Any bit of juice the Bucks could squeeze out of O'Neale offensively would help, but his defense would be the true prize.
Some have wondered if there would be an overlap between O'Neale and Jae Crowder, as they do a lot of the same things, but at this point, the team should be fine with adding as many plus defenders as possible, especially on the perimeter. O'Neale would be a seamless fit with the Bucks on both ends of the floor, bolstering this bench unit.
The forward is on the books for $9.5 million this season, putting him within the realm of affordability for the Bucks. A deal could be centered around Pat Connaughton and draft capital, as the Bucks do hold a pair of second round picks. Milwaukee would almost undoubtedly like to find a way to rope in Dorian Finney-Smith alongside O'Neale, but that's unlikely, it seems.
O'Neale is the latest name on a growing list of trade targets for Milwaukee.
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