The Milwaukee Bucks need to make a move, and fast.
After entering the season with championship expectations, the Bucks dropped their ninth game of the year to the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday. They have a 4-9 record (12th in the Eastern Conference) ahead of Monday’s matchup against the Houston Rockets (9-4).
The first players likely to be on the trade block for Milwaukee are big men Brook Lopez and Bobby Portis. Lopez has regressed in recent years due to his age while Portis is off to a poor start on both ends of the floor.
If the Bucks are looking to hold on to their youth, Lopez is the one to go. He is a 36-year-old interior defender and floor stretcher, averaging 10.5 points and 4.9 rebounds on 40.2% shooting through 13 appearances this season. The Los Angeles Lakers are in desperate need of a big man alongside Anthony Davis, so they’ve acted as the consensus top destination for the former All-Star.
However, the Utah Jazz are likely to act as sellers at the trade deadline, placing a former Sixth Man of the Year on the market.
FanSided proposed the following deal between the Bucks and Jazz:
Bucks receive: Jordan Clarkson and Patty Mills
Jazz receive: Brook Lopez and 2031 second-round pick
It’s simple why the Jazz would make this move: Lopez hits unrestricted free agency this summer while Clarkson has another season on his deal. Moving off roughly $15 million after this year could be a huge benefit for a Jazz team looking to jumpstart a rebuild.
Clarkson brings another element of scoring to the rotation for the Bucks, which is desperately needed in the absence of forward Khris Middleton. Giannis Antetokounmpo is forced to score a minimum of 30 points just for Milwaukee to be in a close game with their opponents. So far this season, the 32-year-old guard is averaging 15.2 points and 4 assists on 39.8% shooting.
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