© Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
The Milwaukee Bucks could acquire Alex Caruso with this trade proposal
With the team’s star player, Giannis Antetokounmpo, once again announcing his willingness to relocate to another team if the Milwaukee Bucks don’t win another NBA title soon, it would be a huge mistake for the team’s decision-makers to just sit on their hands and do nothing. Granted, the Bucks do have a core and a supporting cast capable of winning it all in the next two seasons, but Giannis has made it clear he wants to see proactivity from the team's front office.
Going for it
The Bucks don’t have a lot of trade assets or draft collateral to entice teams to part with pieces the team needs, but one potential move they can make is to acquire Chicago Bulls guard Alex Caruso. Even though he may not be a superstar or even a star-level player, he would definitely help the team in its quest for another title.
Caruso is a high-IQ, low-maintenance player who almost always makes the right play on offense, whether that’s playmaking for a teammate or cutting to the rim to score. He’s also an excellent defender, using his length and quickness to disrupt opponents on the ball and off it.
Parting with young talents like Grayson Allen and MarJon Beauchamp and a 2029 first-round pick might sound like a lot to give up for a role player, but if the Bucks believe his contributions will be vital in their quest for another championship, it might be worth it.
“Doing nothing hardly feels like a solution, so the Bucks might have to cobble together what they can to add another win-now piece to the puzzle. Caruso isn't a star, but he is a high-level role player who can impact the game in a lot of different ways—almost all of which improve his club's chances of winning,” Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report wrote.
Championship or bust
Make no mistake, the Bucks must switch to win-now mode to appease Giannis. The Bucks’ franchise starts and ends with the “Greek Freak” and losing him would be a huge blow to not only the organization but also the entire city of Milwaukee. Caruso is not the entire answer, but he provides enough of a boost to help the Bucks shoot for their ultimate goal—an NBA championship.
“Caruso could give this group a similar lift to what it once received from Donte DiVincenzo, who posted a plus-4.5 net differential across his three full seasons in Milwaukee,” Buckley added.
