Since rumored targets Peyton Watson, Bennedict Mathurin, and Jonathan Kuminga went to other teams in recent weeks, the Milwaukee Bucks have been quiet. They will have to part ways with two players before the regular season, but it feels like this is largely the roster they will roll into the year with. Yet, on September 6, players acquired in their summer blockbuster can be traded alongside other Bucks players, which gives the team an opportunity to explore one last splash.
Breaking down the Bucks' situation
Over the last three months, the Milwaukee Bucks could not trade Tyler Herro, Kasparas Jakucionis, Kel'el Ware, or Jaime Jaquez Jr. alongside another player due to NBA rules. However, as soon as the three-month mark of the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade officially passes, that restriction lifts, giving the Bucks some added flexibility to make a trade.
For instance, Tyler Herro's name was floating around in trade chatter when he first landed with the Milwaukee Bucks this summer. By all accounts, it sounds like they want to keep him, but if the team entertained trading him, they could now throw another piece into a deal—say, Caris LeVert—to wittle down their roster amid their ongoing crunch rather than trading Herro by himself.
It gives the team added flexibility they didn't have since trading Giannis Antetokounmpo in case there is another splash they want to make before the NBA season starts.
Despite new tool, Bucks unlikely to use it
While nothing is set in stone, all signs point to the Milwaukee Bucks keeping the four players they got in the Giannis deal. There has been chatter about potential contract extensions for Herro and Jaquez, while Ware and Jakucionis are both under team control. It would make sense to see what they can do with greater roles in Milwaukee before enduring any other major shakeups.
In all likelihood, Milwaukee's strategy to trim the roster will not focus on anything too dramatic. Outside of Pistons' restricted free agent Jalen Duren, there aren't many big fish out there who are worth shaking up the roster for this late in the summer. Barring a drastic change, expect the Bucks to roll into camp with this group minus two players who are likely near the end of the bench.
The four former Heat players are likely viewed as key pieces for the next era of Bucks basketball.
Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis.
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