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A year after winning their first NBA Championship in 50 seasons, the Milwaukee Bucks fell well short of their quest to repeat. As Giannis Antetokounmpo and his supporting cast provided plenty of highlight-reel plays, their focus has now turned to the 2022 NBA offseason, one that will likely see a good amount of roster turnover.
Milwaukee’s big 3 of Antetokounmpo, Jrue Holiday, and Khris Middleton, were not as successful this past season and fought through some injuries and inconsistencies. The team’s supporting cast saw another strong year by Bobby Portis and Pat Connaughton, while Brook Lopez made his last-season return and played well when was able to get onto the court.
But the Bucks roster needs some tweaking, and via the trade market, the Bucks roster likely would get that infusion of talent they desperately need.
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2 players Bucks must trade in the 2022 NBA offseason
2. Grayson Allen
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While less of a needed trade than Option 1 on this list, Grayson Allen was played off of the court during the postseason. His play during the year was good enough to keep him in the Bucks rotation, but Mike Budenholzer quickly went a different direction after the 3-point shooter was unable to tickle the twine.
Milwaukee is heavily reliant on the three-ball, and with Allen being unable to hit them, he was seen more as a liability than an asset, and his playing time reflected that. But Allen, who signed a two-year, $20 million extension less than three months after his trade from Memphis, still has good trade value, and Milwaukee should take advantage of that.
Tying Allen to the 24th overall selection in this year’s NBA Draft, Option 1 on this list, or a plethora of different directions would help maximize his return. Only 26 years old, as long as Allen can rediscover his shooting stroke, he certainly can carry his own weight for whichever team he would be moved to, and his contract is more than affordable.
1. George Hill
Another backcourt member of the Bucks that should be on the move is George Hill, an aging PG who Budenholzer trusts far too much in key situations. While those two go back to their days as members of the Spurs, Hill just doesn’t have it anymore at 36, and the Bucks should cut ties with him.
Hill carries far less value than what Allen does on the track market, but Hill is cheaper than Allen’s deal and is only a one-year rental. If a team is willing to move on from some backcourt shooting and willing to take on Hill’s deal plus a sweetener or two for a helpful option (like Josh Hart), then the Bucks should certainly not be averse to making that move.
While Antetokounmpo seems extremely happy with the Bucks and both Holiday and Middleton are still under contract for at least this season, Milwaukee has to use the trade market to their advantage. General manager Jon Horst has been known to wheel and deal in the past, so expecting another deal from him some time this offseason is certainly in the cards.
