The Milwaukee Bucks they once again face an offseason after the bitter disappointment of losing in the first round of the NBA Playoffs. Once again, they face a season full of questions about how best to rebuild their squad. They signed several veteran free agents to minimum contracts last year before trading Jrue Holiday and Grayson Allen in a three-team trade for All-Star point guard Damian Lillard.
While the NBA Finals are not over yet, there have already been several trade rumors surrounding the Bucks. While many of them include actors like Brook Lopez and Bobby Portis, some are more unrealistic because they include one of Milwaukee’s two biggest stars: Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The proposed trade would send Damian Lillard to the Brooklyn Nets for 3 players and 3 first-round picks from the Milwaukee Bucks
One of the latest trade suggestions suggested by Fran Leiva z The Vanishing World suggests that the Bucks would trade Lillard to the Brooklyn Nets, one of their fiercest rivals in the NBA’s Eastern Conference:
Nets received by: Damian Lillard
Bucks receive: Cameron Johnson, Dennis Schroder, Dorian Finney-Smith, 2025 first-round pick (via Suns), 2027 first-round pick (via Suns), 2029 first-round pick .
“The idea behind this transaction is to provide both teams with a strategic advantage. It’s crucial for the Bucks to gain depth and flexibility. For the Nets, acquiring a star like Damian Lillard would significantly improve their lineup.
The most vital thing to remember when discussing any deal involving the Bucks is that they must bring in as much salary as they send. In other words, the Bucks can’t give up the salary cap by selling large contracts.
This industry actually meets these salary thresholds – Cameron Johnson earns $23 million, Dennis Schroder earns $13 million, and Dorian Finney-Smith earns just under $15 million.
Damian Lillard’s deal with the Milwaukee Bucks will not go through
The only thing this trade does for Milwaukee is that it will restock its stock of first-round picks. Besides, the talent they would receive in return is simply not enough.
If the Bucks were to trade any player this offseason, it would have to be a trade that would get them to the NBA Finals. Trading Lillard, the second best player on the team, is not the way to achieve this goal.
Cameron Johnson averaged 13.4 points last season, shooting nearly 40% from three, but Milwaukee already has a player like him in Portis. Additionally, Dennis Schroder would be a terrible minus to Lillard at the point guard position. Dorian Finney-Smith is on the wrong side of 30 and is the impoverished man’s Khris Middleton. This means he plays in the same position but is not as good.
What’s more, Milwaukee finished well ahead of the Nets 32-50 in this year’s rankings. Adding three players from this lineup will not improve Milwaukee’s situation.
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