The Milwaukee Bucks' identity shift to become a younger, more athletic team has provided promise, but it might need more reinforcement. With Milwaukee sitting at 8-7 and already riddled by injuries, the Bucks might have to go big-name hunting if they want to stay afloat in a tight Eastern Conference. Given Jon Horst's tenure as general manager, it would not be surprising to see him get to work.
Bucks are always aggressive in situations like these
When the Bucks have had their backs against the wall in recent years, Horst has gone out and made major deals. Jrue Holiday. Damian Lillard. P.J. Tucker (to a lesser degree). Simply put, the Bucks always know what is at stake, especially this season with rumors that Giannis Antetokounmpo genuinely flirted with the idea of playing elsewhere this past summer.
Another poor season could set up an inevitable divorce.
Horst will absolutely scour the trade market; the question is, how big does he want to go? A minor deal for a small forward would help, but is that enough to save this wounded animal? Does he want to push all of his chips to the center of the table for a household name, an approach the Bucks went away from, filling out the supporting cast instead of loading up the top part of the roster?
Given his track record, it wouldn't be shocking to see the Milwaukee Bucks go for it all. They do have a 2031 first-round pick, which is among the most desirable assets league-wide. If they can land a player who could immediately help right the ship, Horst would likely go for it. The new approach still has potential, but the Milwaukee Bucks might not have time to wait it out.
If Horst goes down that route once again, the type of question is who he might look at. It's still early in the season, but names are out there. Ja Morant has endured some turbulence in Memphis that has many wondering if he will be there for the long haul. How about Zach LaVine? The Bucks reportedly looked at him last year before their deal to land Kyle Kuzma. Neither are perfect, but they are options.
While Ryan Rollins has emerged as a second scoring option, the Milwaukee Bucks could use another bucket-getter. Far too often, the offense looks out of sync when Giannis isn't in full control. This team must find a way to be productive without Giannis doing everything start to finish. Kevin Porter Jr. can help once he returns from injury, but he might not be enough.
For now, all the Milwaukee Bucks can do is do homework. A good chunk of the roster, including Bobby Portis, who should be among their main trade chips, cannot be traded until December. That means they must stay afloat for the time being, which will be difficult if Giannis Antetokounmpo misses extended time following a recent groin strain.
Once that trade window opens, it wouldn't be surprising if Horst turned back the clock in an effort to help get the Bucks some reinforcements.
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