With the Milwaukee Bucks pivoting to youth, it's only natural to assume they will look to move Myles Turner before the NBA Trade Deadline. The problem is that it will be incredibly difficult to find a team willing to bring him in, given how poorly he's playing. Perhaps that becomes an easier sell if the Bucks are willing to include Ryan Rollins, who is falling out of favor in Milwaukee's rotation quickly.
Rollins has taken a step back
After many believed he could be Milwaukee's best player this coming season, Rollins has regressed. It's hit the Bucks like a freight train, and it doesn't look like things will change anytime soon. Through four November showings, Rollins is averaging 18.8 minutes per game, seventh on the team and third among guards. That's not the role many envisioned for him.
Coach Taylor Jenkins clearly likes what he has in the starting duo of Tyler Herro and Brayden Burries, but it's surprising that even AJ Green is playing more than Rollins. If this keeps up, or if the guard falls out of the rotation even further, the Milwaukee Bucks would be foolish not to consider a trade. He's on an expiring contract (a cheap one) and is one of their few players with actual value.
Despite his slow start this year, Rollins showed last season that he was a two-way monster, averaging 17.3 points and 1.5 steals while shooting 40.6 percent from three. Making just $4 million this season, plenty of teams would take on his contract and bet that he could be a useful piece for a stretch run. Yet, the Milwaukee Bucks should look to make him a complementary piece, not the centerpiece.
Bucks need to wipe the slate clean
Myles Turner just hasn't been the player the Milwaukee Bucks hoped he would be. After a mediocre first season in Milwaukee, he's been even worse this season. The big man is averaging 7.1 points per game while shooting 34.6 percent from the floor, both career lows. With each passing day, cutting Damian Lillard to make room for Turner looks worse for the Bucks.
It makes all the sense in the world to move him and see what Kel'el Ware can do in a larger role, even if he has issues of his own amid a sluggish start. The problem is that Turner is a negative asset around the NBA. In fact, NBA insider Jake Fischer (subscription required) reported previously that Golden State would want additional assets attached to Turner in a potential Turner-Porzingis swap.
For further context, Porzingis is likely to never play basketball again as he battles an illness that has kept him out for the entire season. Even if the financial flexibility that provides is nice, it says a lot that the Warriors would rather keep Porzingis than get a center who can actually play. Who knows how the Warriors, or other teams, might react if Rollins was dangled in their as well, though.
If this trend continues, the Bucks must at least toy with the idea.
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