Trade rumors continue to fuel the NBA world this season, and the Milwaukee Bucks have been no stranger to those scenarios with Giannis Antetokounmpo frequently popping up on the radar.
But what about stars that they would be interested in pursuing, not moving on from? Three players would garner their attention, including one who is on a contract worth up to $215 million.
The Rumored Players the Bucks Want To Pursue
To secure Antetokounmpo’s future with the franchise, the Bucks must make moves to add stronger talent to the roster and significantly improve their chances of competing for a title.
The three players they would have interest in trading for are the Sacramento Kings’ duo of Zach LaVine and Malik Monk, as well as the Portland Trail Blazers’ Jerami Grant, per ESPN’s Jamal Collier. Adding any of those standout players can elevate the team’s ceiling, especially on the offensive side of the ball.
“In the meantime, multiple team and league sources say the team has been active in pursuing the trade market, engaging in internal conversations about, among others, Sacramento’s Zach LaVine, whom they have had interest in and chances to acquire in the past, and Malik Monk, as well as Portland’s Jerami Grant,” Collier wrote.
LaVine is going through the fourth year of his five-year, $215,159,700 contract. The last year is a player option, which could be a valuable aspect in a potential trade if he wants to move on from the Kings. He is averaging 20.2 points and three rebounds per game throughout 23 appearances this season.
Monk would serve as an excellent spark off the bench with his quality scoring. He has been in Sacramento for four years as he progresses through the second of his four-year, $78 million deal. He is producing 12.1 points and 2.3 assists per contest this year, making his 3-pointers at a 40.7% clip.
As for Grant, he stands out as a solid asset for Portland to float in potential trade packages. He provides incredible production as a two-way player with his versatility and athleticism, something that Milwaukee would covet as quality wing depth. This year, he is averaging 20 points and four rebounds per game across 26 contests.
What’s Next on Schedule for Bucks?
It’s clear that if the Bucks wish to completely negate the idea of trading away Antetokounmpo, they will have to move their own pieces to have a chance at keeping their franchise star. And considering the team’s recent struggles in his absence due to a calf strain, fulfilling the objective of adding better players will be crucial.
Milwaukee has a 14-19 record on the season, holding the 11th spot in the Eastern Conference standings. They have a 2.5-game lead over the Charlotte Hornets and Brooklyn Nets while trailing the Atlanta Hawks by 0.5 games and the Chicago Bulls by 1.5 games.
Rolling with back-to-back wins following Giannis Antetokounmpo’s return from injury, the Bucks will look forward to their next matchup. They will be at home when they host the Washington Wizards on Dec. 31 at 8 p.m. ET.
