This Milwaukee Bucks have one goal this season: win another NBA championship. They certainly have the star power to do it with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard on the roster. Both players were named starters in the NBA All-Star Game last season and both are members of the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team. Now that they have a full offseason to work out together (Lillard’s trade happened just before training camp last year), they should be able to find the best ways to play together.
The Bucks also have Khris Middleton, who, contrary to what many may think, is one of the best third options in the NBA. Without him, the Bucks might not have lasted even six games in their opening-round loss to the Indiana Pacers last postseason. Without Giannis and a vigorous Lillard, Middleton averaged 24.7 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game on 48/35/90 shooting.
What a Bucks Down However, there is a need for more athletic and versatile defenders, which were spent the offseason acquiring.
Milwaukee Bucks Get Younger and More Versatile Through Free Agency and the NBA Draft
At one point, it was thought that the Bucks would trade one or both of their NBA draft picks to add a player who could aid them win now. Instead, they used both of their picks on 19-year-old prospects who may need some time to contribute to an NBA roster. AJ Johnson was selected in the first round, while Tyler Smith was selected in the second.
Due to the huge salary cap, the Bucks are currently unable to make any signings above the veteran minimum. However, they did sign two significant free agents: point guard Delon Wright and power forward Taurean Prince.
Both of those players are good defenders and can shoot three-pointers. Both are also expected to come off the bench for Milwaukee, bolstering their second unit.
However, one NBA analyst believes the Bucks should make another decision that will cost them their center.
NBA Analyst from Athletics Suggests Milwaukee Bucks trade Brook Lopez to Detroit Pistons
James L. Edwards III of Athletics recently suggested a trade that would send Brook Lopez to the Detroit Pistons as part of article he wrote examining five different potential trade partners for Detroit. He wrote of a hypothetical trade with Milwaukee:
“Milwaukee is currently $11.5 million over the cap and there have been rumors Brook Lopez and his expiring contract potentially being moved. Detroit could step in and give the Bucks some youth and open the MLE to non-taxpayers to add one or two more parts.
“Here’s what a transaction that could potentially satisfy both parties should look like:
- Pistons receive Brook Lopez and a future first-round draft pick (2031).
- Bucks accept Jalen Duren.
“For Detroit, this move adds an elite rim protector and shooter from the center position, and also adds some draft capital. On the Milwaukee side, and I’m not sure Bucks fans will love this, but it gets a recent lottery pick under team control who can play now, and it also opens up a significant exception to be used. This deal seems very unlikely, but it doesn’t seem impossible.”
Jalen Duren, a 6-foot-1 center who averaged 13.8 points and 11.6 rebounds for the Pistons last season, is only in his second year in the NBA, so he still has a lot of control over the team. His signing would give the Bucks an immediate center position that Lopez would lose if he moved.
The downside is that Duren isn’t a three-point shooter. While Lopez can spread the floor on offense, Duren can’t. That could create problems for both Giannis and Lillard, who like to drive inside and throw passes to open shooters.
Still, it’s an intriguing idea as to how the Bucks could rejuvenate their centers.
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