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The Milwaukee Bucks will gain some immediate benefits of trading for Phoenix Suns point guard Eric Bledsoe, saving some tax money — but things will complicate for the franchise at the end of this season, forcing them to make some tough decisions.
Milwaukee will create a $3.38 million trade exception and stay $4.4 million below the luxury tax after unloading Monroe, according to ESPN Insider Bobby Marks. Bledsoe has a $14.5 million cap hit this year and will make $15 million next season.
The Bucks now have $106 million lined up in contracts next season, about $16 million below the luxury tax. The restricted free agency of Jabari Parker will push the Bucks into the tax, making this another obstacle in keeping the core together.
Parker has now undergone two ACL surgeries since breaking into the NBA, making this a somewhat perilous trail for the Bucks' front office to walk through.
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Milwaukee can offer Parker a more modest contract structure, filled with trigger goals for games played and minutes on the floor — in hopes to safeguard themselves in case he doesn't turn out to be as healthy as they want him to be.
They can also play it by ear, as other teams will likely have the same concern for his history of injuries.
Parker has shown great potential at both ends of the floor, with excellent instincts around passing lane, as well as an array of tools at the scoring end of the ball, averaging 20.1 points per game at 49 percent from the floor.
Bledsoe's addition should give them a much-needed scoring punch, so the team could opt to let Parker walk in the long run, if Bledsoe makes the impact desired this season.
The Duke standout would now have to beat out Khris Middleton at small forward to be a starter, which would prove too difficult, as he is the best outside shooter the Bucks have at the moment.
