Thon Maker was an important piece of the Milwaukee Bucks' impressive young core just less than two years ago. He not only spoke openly of winning championships and multiple MVPs but backed up such wide-eyed optimism in the playoffs with flashes of two-way dominance in his team's hard-fought loss to the top-seeded Toronto Raptors.
The Bucks have lived up to the promise they showed back then, currently owning an impressive 38-13 record, but Maker has had little-to-no impact on that league-leading tally. Milwaukee is scouring the trade market for deals involving the seven-footer instead, hoping to honor a wish he made last week to play for a team that could afford him consistent playing time.
And according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, general manager Jon Horst is still working the phones with multiple suitors.
Maker remains in play in several trade scenarios, league sources say. Bucks are talking to several teams on possible deals. https://t.co/DjOffpJhQz
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 3, 2019
Maker's counting numbers are down across the board this season. He's notched DNP-CDs in 15 separate games, including five straight, as fellow big man D.J. Wilson further establishes himself as a viable backup behind starting center Brook Lopez.
In theory, Maker checks every box teams want from bigs in the modern NBA. He has legitimate three-point range, is quick enough to hang with guards on the perimeter after switches on defense, and has shown impressive shot-blocking instincts when in the proper position. But he's still painfully weak at 21 years old and doesn't possess the natural girth to gain the strength necessary to bang with opposing centers for space in the paint. Maker's feel for the game on both ends leaves much to be desired, too.
The jury is still out on the former lottery pick becoming a worthwhile NBA player. Those rookie-season dreams of Maker becoming a star, though, have vanished entirely, and won't return regardless of where he's playing after the trade deadline.
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