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ESPN analyst thinks the Bucks are one of the “potential aggressive shoppers” heading to 2023-24 trade deadline
From the championship-caliber might that they've been showcasing thus far this season, it appears that the Milwaukee Bucks are all geared up and ready to go.
Holding a comfortable second-seeded seat in the Eastern Confessions with a 28-12 record, the Bucks are truly in their prime to deliver a deep season run. Featuring their one-two punch superstars of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard, they are an immovable force to collide with. Their veteran-laden depth is top-notch, as Khris Middleton, Brook Lopez, and Bobby Portis are all capable as well to produce reliable numbers.
But even though they already have a battle-tested squad that can go for an all-out basketball war, a basketball expert claimed that the Bucks could be a key team to watch who would still look to make a move heading to this season's trade deadline.
Are the Bucks a potentially aggressive shopper heading to the trade deadline?
In the latest episode of The Hoop Collective podcast, ESPN NBA writer and analyst Tim Bontemps picked Milwaukee as one of the "potential aggressive shoppers" in this year's trade period.
Although the Bucks are limited in resources, Bontemps leaned on general manager Jon Horst's strong transactional history during the trade deadline as an important factor on why the franchise could make a swing in the market in the next few days.
"I would suspect the Bucks will try to do stuff. Jon Horst has typically been really aggressive in season, trying to make trades. I know they have limited trade assets. However, one asset they do have is Portland's [2024] second-round pick, which is a pretty juicy second-round pick. They've got some expiring money to float around or some money to float around. I don't know if they'll get anything done given the situation they're in, but I would suspect that they will explore stuff just based of Horst's history," Bontemps said.
"He went traded for Nikola Mirotic at the [2019] trade deadline, went and got Jae Crowder in last year's trade deadline. Like, they've consistently gone and tried to make moves in the season," Tim added.
Will the Bucks embrace another trade?
Bontemps's point makes sense. Since inheriting the team's general managerial position in 2017, Horst has consistently pulled out trades each season to improve the Bucks' contention chances. And with the team vying to win it all this year and having its best chances through the leadership of Giannis and Dame, it won't be shocking if Horst soon hits the marketplace in hopes of locating their missing pieces.
As it is, it has to be considered that Milwaukee is short-handed in their trade chips. As their cap also resides in the second apron, they are prohibited from signing players coming off the buyout market. Nevertheless, they have plenty of significant assets and salary-matching pieces to make trades work and address their critical weaknesses, like their woeful perimeter defense.
With over 20 days left before the trade deadline hits the 2023-24 calendar, the Bucks still have plenty of time to evaluate and assess their needs as they head to the critical second half of the season and into the playoffs.
