In the midst of a one-week wait to finalize a deal between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Boston Celtics, the Milwaukee Bucks lured closely, willing to offer a package of Rookie of the Year Malcolm Brogdon and shooting guard Khris Middleton in return for Kyrie Irving, but resisted adding a first-round pick to sweeten the deal.
According to Matt Velasquez of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, a source close to the situation noted there was “nothing” to these reports — even saying that there have not even been conversations between the Bucks and Cavaliers.
ESPN's Zach Lowe, who initially reported the Bucks' proposed offer, said that Milwaukee would eventually be willing to add a first-rounder to get the deal done and pull the rug underneath the Celtics, but there was no sense that Irving would be willing to commit long-term to the organization.
Being a small market, although with growing assets, can at times be a frantic business — as stars of Irving's caliber and fame don't see themselves living in a city where their brand is unlikely to shine as bright — whether it is the games nationally televised in a year or just the lack of a presence to market a product.
Even if there isn't anything to these prior reports, we can't blame the Bucks front office for trying.
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