4 Trade Candidates Milwaukee Bucks Should Avoid

Trader Jon (Milwaukee Bucks’ general manager Jon Horst) is likely working the phones as you read this. He’s nothing if not diligent when it comes to finding ways to improve the Bucks’ roster.

Over the years, he’s acquired players such as P.J. Tucker, Tyler Zeller, Nikola Mirotic, Eric Bledsoe, and Jrue Holiday in season. Although not every player on that list worked out the way he hoped, it’s clear he’s active in the trade market.

The Bucks have a few trade chips they can pull together before the deadline on February 9th, but it’s mostly spare parts. That limits their ability to obtain a true difference-maker. I’m not sure if or who he’ll trade for, but if he does make a move, he should avoid these four players.

Alec Burks

The Detroit Pistons are looking to cash in on Burks’ stock being the highest it has ever been. And Milwaukee should be careful for just that reason.

Burks is averaging 13.5 points per game while shooting a career-high from deep (44.6 percent) and from the field (an effective field goal percentage of 56.5). He’s been tremendous off the bench for Detroit and it’s easy to envision him in a similar role in Milwaukee.

However, acquiring him would require the Bucks to ship away Grayson Allen or George Hill, Jordan Nwora and Serge Ibaka plus draft compensation in either scenario.

An Allen for Burks swap isn’t a big enough of an upgrade (or an upgrade at all) to justify the move. And trading for Burks while keeping Allen on the team gets a little redundant considering both players are shooters who lack the defensive acumen to hang in the postseason. There are more impactful players available on the market who can be had at a similar price.

Jae Crowder (If trading away Grayson Allen)

Crowder has been on the block all season long and his trade value is diminished as a result. Phoenix obviously hasn’t gotten an offer they like for him, but the two sides remain at an impasse for Crowder’s return.

Shams Charania of The Athletic reported that Milwaukee has a standing offer of Hill, Nwora, Ibaka and second-round draft compensation. I’m fine with that as long as it’s no more than two seconds and Allen isn’t included.

If Allen is included, the Bucks should stay away from Crowder. Yes, he brings toughness, versatility and defense that will be appreciated in the postseason. However, his lack of consistent offense could be detrimental to a Bucks’ squad that already struggles to score. They each play very different roles and having both of them on the roster would be a nice chess piece for head coach Mike Budenholzer.

Eric Gordon

The Bucks reportedly made an offer for Gordon that included four second-round picks and the Houston Rockets turned it down. Thank goodness.

Trading for Gordon, who makes $19.6 million this year and has a non-guaranteed $20.9 million in 2023-24, would be a gigantic financial commitment for a role player. I worry how it would impact the rest of the Bucks’ financial situation.

Milwaukee would also have to give up Allen, Hill, Nwora and Ibaka or Portis and others to make the deal work financially. That is too high of a price tag for a 34-year old undersized guard who has shot at or below league average from deep in five of the last six years.

Cam Reddish

Reddish has fallen out of favor in New York and can reportedly be had for a couple of second-round picks. That sounds like a Knicks’ fantasy to me, considering they haven’t played him in months and his trade value has never been lower.

Reddish is a former first-round pick and had a nice playoff showing against the Bucks in the 2021 Eastern Conference Finals. That’s about all he has going for him. He gets paid a little under $6 million this season which is a lot for a small market team already set to pay a boatload of money in the luxury tax.

Reddish would be a buy-low candidate with the hopes he can turn it around in the future. I haven’t seen many signs that he has what it takes to develop into a legit rotation piece for the Bucks. It’s not worth it to give up some of the few assets Milwaukee has.