The Milwaukee Bucks are in hassle. Doc Rivers’ workforce have received simply one among their opening 5 video games within the 2024-25 season.
The Giannis Antetokounmpo-Damian Lillard experiment will not be working and there are even stories that the previous is contemplating a commerce request.
Antetokounmpo’s departure could be absolutely the worst-case situation for Milwaukee so they have to discover all different avenues to show this workforce right into a contender once more.
One transfer the Bucks’ entrance workplace may make is to commerce away Lillard whereas his worth continues to be excessive – an concept that NBA Evaluation Community explores beneath.
- Milwaukee Bucks obtain: Dejounte Murray, Brandon Ingram, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl
- New Orleans Pelicans obtain: Damian Lillard, Bobby Portis, Pat Connaughton
Few groups would realistically be excited by buying and selling for Lillard. He’s 34 years previous and on a three-year deal value round $50 million per season.
The Los Angeles Lakers look good below JJ Redick and the Miami Warmth must hand over 24-year-old Tyler Herro – who’s within the type of his life – and extra to match the salaries.
However there’s a Western Convention workforce that would additionally do with a roster shakeup to show their season round – the New Orleans Pelicans.
Ought to the Pelicans conform to this deal, the Bucks would return two key items – Dejounte Murray and Brandon Ingram.
Murray will not be the offensive star that Lillard is however he ought to actually assist Milwaukee to enhance from the seventh-worst protection within the NBA.
In the meantime, Ingram’s worth is at an all-time low as a result of he’s within the final yr of his contract however he’s most likely the very best participant out there on the commerce market.
The deal would see Khris Middleton transfer to the capturing guard place and the Bucks grow to be the largest beginning 5 within the league.
Beginning 5 | Bench |
Dejounte Murray | Delon Wright |
Khris Middleton | Gary Trent Jr. |
Brandon Ingram | Andre Jackson Jr. |
Giannis Antetokounmpo | Taurean Prince |
Brook Lopez | Jeremiah Robinson-Earl |

Typically, much less is extra. And, on this occasion, buying and selling away two fringe All-Star gamers for one bona fide star makes good sense.
The Pelicans have a number of high quality gamers however not one nearer (like Lillard) to get them over the road within the closing minutes of video games.
Plus, this transfer would reunite Lillard with former Portland Path Blazers teammate CJ McCollum so there could be no chemistry issues like in Milwaukee.
To not point out, the addition of Bobby Portis (6’10”) would instantly repair the Pelicans’ big-man downside and enhance the steadiness of the roster to no finish.
Beginning 5 | Bench |
Damian Lillard | Jose Alvarado |
CJ McCollum | Jordan Hawkins |
Herbert Jones | Pat Connaughton |
Zion Williamson | Trey Murphy III |
Bobby Portis | Daniel Theis |
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