NBA rumors: Bucks ‘open’ on numerous trade fronts ahead of 2024 draft
The Milwaukee Bucks are in full-blown win-now mode with a team built around Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard, and there reportedly are a ton of trade possibilities on the table this offseason, including the No. 23 overall pick to help the team win in the immediate future, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.
Scotto also indicates that he has heard that Bobby Portis and Pat Connaughton are available on the trade market for win-now upgrades as well for the Bucks. However, it is not a lock that either player gets traded.
“Rival executives have also come away with the sense that Bobby Portis and Pat Connaughton are available on the trade market if Milwaukee can make a notable win-now upgrade,” Scotto said. “Both players, however, have been mentioned as possible trade candidates in the past, and nothing has come of it. Portis finished as a Sixth Man of the Year finalist for the second straight year.”
The Bucks set off a chain of events that played a part in the Boston Celtics winning the NBA Finals last year with the trade for Damian Lillard. With Jrue Holiday going to the Portland Trail Blazers and quickly being flipped to the Celtics, it strengthened Boston’s roster. Milwaukee is hoping that the pairing of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Lillard can stay healthier next season and find more success. Upgrades around the roster would be very helpful. There are multiple ways the Bucks can go to try to find those upgrades.
What can the Bucks do to upgrade the roster this offseason?
As mentioned above, the Bucks could trade the No. 23 pick to get an immediate impact player, but if that is not valuable enough to get something good back, Milwaukee could use the pick to upgrade the depth of the team. Scotto specifically mentioned drafting Isaiah Collier to improve the guard depth behind Lillard and prepare for when the veteran moves on.
“Should the Bucks remain in this slot and land Isaiah Collier, he’d represent a potential upgrade at backup point guard behind Damian Lillard and could become the point guard of the future,” Scotto wrote. “Earlier this season, Collier was considered the potential top overall pick and was one of the top players in his high school class.”
The Bucks could use the veterans in Portis and Connaughton as well to try to bring in new blood to the roster.
One thing is clear, the Bucks need to make moves not only to try to chase down the Celtics in the Eastern Conference, but to stay with or pass other contenders in the conference like the New York Knicks, Indiana Pacers and Orlando Magic. The Knicks figure to be in the picture at the top of the conference again, and the Bucks just lost to the Pacers in the playoffs this season, while the Magic are a young team that has the financial flexibility to add talent and get better this summer.
It will be worth monitoring the Bucks’ activity this offseason to get back on top in the Eastern Conference.
The post NBA rumors: Bucks ‘open’ on numerous trade fronts ahead of 2024 draft appeared first on ClutchPoints.
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