© Jamie Sabau-USA TODAY Sports
A wild trade proposal lands the Milwaukee Bucks Alex Caruso
The Milwaukee Bucks’ defense has substantially regressed this season. With All-Defensive team member Jrue Holiday no longer at the point of the team’s defensive attack, the Bucks rank near the bottom of the NBA’s defensive rankings, giving up 117.7 points per game (24th in the league) and holding a defensive rating of 116.8 (25th in the NBA).
While the backcourt of Damian Lillard and Malik Beasley provide incredible offensive power, their defense leaves a lot to be desired. And in a league that features plenty of incredible offensive talent, the Bucks need to find a way to shore up their defense if they want to regain their place atop the NBA.
This is a need that can be adeptly addressed by someone like the Chicago Bulls’ Alex Caruso.
Ideal player to start alongside Lillard
Obviously, Lillard will not be losing his place in the starting lineup any time soon. However, with defensive plays like this, the Bucks faithful and experts alike are wondering if Beasley is the right person that start at the two-guard slot for Milwaukee.
Caruso, though, would be perfect at the two for the Bucks. A low-maintenance player who doesn’t need the ball to be effective, Caruso would be a great fit alongside Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo. His hustle and energy on defense is just what the doctor ordered to get the Bucks back to elite status—a sentiment shared by NBA insider Chris Haynes.
Getting a deal done
Getting an actual deal done, though, would be tricky and necessitate another team’s involvement. In this trade proposal by Jackson Gross of SB Nation, the Bucks would send Bobby Portis and two second-round picks to the Oklahoma City Thunder and MarJon Beauchamp and Pat Connaughton to the Bulls to acquire both Caruso and Kenrich Williams.
“This is an unlikely trade to go through, considering the Bucks are only giving up Connaughton, Portis, and two seconds. However, I think it has potential, especially if Chicago decides to enter a rebuild rather than retool. The Bulls need picks and young players to get the future rolling and start looking to the draft to fix the mess they find themselves in,” Gross said.
“As for the Bucks, both Caruso and Williams are defensive-oriented players and provide an edge on that end that the Bucks sorely need for their championship aspirations.”
