Many have wondered whether the Milwaukee Bucks make sense as a potential Trae Young trade destination, but he’s likely headed elsewhere. Per NBA Insider Marc Stein (subscription required), the Wizards have emerged as the most likely candidate to acquire Young. Hopefully, the Wizards’ involvement will keep the Bucks from making a huge mistake for a player nobody wants.
The Bucks need to steer clear of Trae Young
There’s a reason the Wizards are the only team to express real interest in Trae Young. The four-time All-Star has seen his trade value dip more than anyone else in the league over the last year. Between his ball-dominant offense and struggles on defense, Young doesn’t fit into winning teams very well.
Still, there were some fears that the Bucks could get desperate enough to bring in Young. If the Hawks threw in some extra sweeteners to persuade the Bucks, it might’ve been worth a look for Milwaukee. But the truth is that Young brings more headaches than he’s worth at this point.
On top of his questionable play style, Young’s contract situation is also not a favorable one for a team already in financial limbo. He’s making nearly $46 million this season and almost $49 million next season before hitting the market as an unrestricted free agent. Young brings the dreaded double whammy of an expensive contract and a flight risk after limited time with his new team.
The Milwaukee Bucks would have to do extensive work to clear enough cap space for him and then try to negotiate an extension with him. That’s already a lot to handle on its own, but it's completely unreasonable in a summer where they could be sealing the fate of their superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Trae Young is in a very precarious position in the NBA. His contract and offensive strengths dictate that he must be a focal point for his team. But he’s not quite good enough to lead teams deep into the playoffs as a primary option. This has made him a negative asset that competitive teams should avoid.
It makes sense for a rebuilding team like the Wizards to bring him in for a shot at better talent and a potential boost to their young players. But a team like the Bucks that’s still looking to make a playoff push this season won’t benefit from Young’s addition.
Bucks fans should be breathing a sigh of relief that a reasonable suitor has finally emerged for Trae Young. Even if the rumors didn’t have much weight to them, the idea of Young potentially being dealt to the Bucks was enough to make the Milwaukee faithful sweat. Now, they can sit back and let the Wizards take care of that trade domino.