As the NBA season nears once again, the rumors are getting hot. The Bucks have been considered in many rumor trade scenarios. There is no harm in beefing up or unloading a player that is no longer needed. Some teams may look to package together trades rather than cut players, as well. Unfortunately for Utah Jazz fans, this very well may be the case with a crowded roster currently.
After trading away Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert, the team has entered their rebuild. There are still multiple players on their roster who don’t seem to fit their mold going forwards. Perhaps the Bucks could consider acquiring a valuable piece off the bench in 2021 for the Jazz, if he is made available.
Will the Bucks Add Another Guard?
The Bucks have been in conversations and rumor mills the entire off-season. Some teams, like the Jazz, have been looking to unload players. The Thunder are another team that can never be kept out of the conversation due to their cycle of flipping players. The Rockets as well could look to move players they don’t plan on retaining beyond 2022.
The Jazz have been the topic of conversation amidst their shocking moves. Great things came to an end eventually, and the team wasn’t able to get to where they needed to be. However, the moves created more questions than it answered and there are two players that are possibly available. Both Malik Beasley and Jordan Clarkson have been mentioned in trade talks.
Milwaukee has been a team analysts have thrown around due to their contract situations. Khris Middleton has an impending option coming up that could decide his future in Milwaukee. Along with him, Jordan Nwora is under contract for two years after re-signing yesterday. There also is the question of who will be the starting shooting guard for the team heading into the season.
Pat Connaughton and Grayson Allen shined at times, with Connaughton looking great off the bench most of the year. There is also Wesley Matthews, but he averaged less than ten points per game last year and coach Mike Budeholzer may want a better offensive option. If this is the case, acquiring a Jazz guard could help solidify the squad.
Beasley or Clarkson for the Bucks?
Jordan Clarkson averaged 16 points in 14.96 minutes per game last year. Clarkson was impressive off the bench last year and offers any team an offensive boost. His defense, however, has never been there but that is expected from a crafty scorer. Clarkson is a career 15.4 points per game scorer along with an average of 1.8 threes made per game.
Clarkson may very well stay with the Jazz, and there hasn’t been any urgency from the front office. Although, he doesn’t necessarily fit their current mold and the team has plenty of guards. Mike Conley, Collin Sexton, Talen Horton-Tucker, and Malik Beasley under contract as well. Without making a move the Jazz would be severely guard heavy heading into the season, which is something they may look to fix.
Another player that doesn’t fit the Jazz mold is newly acquired Malik Beasley. Beasley averaged 12.1 points per game last year off the bench for Minnesota. Beasley is a similar player to Clarkson, who has really found his stride from three point land. In limited action, Beasley has averaged 3.2 three pointers per game in the last three seasons with the T-Wolves. Even though he hasn’t played for the Jazz yet, why he was signed is a mystery. He could provide great depth for the Jazz, but in all honesty they don’t have a roster to get anywhere this year, and Beasley doesn’t seem to be needed. He could boost the Bucks rotation, if acquired.
Are the Bucks Interested in Either Guard?
The Bucks have already been implicated in the Jordan Clarkson trade talks. However, nothing has come to fruition and some wonder how the Clarkson fit would work. Beasley hasn’t been mentioned in any talks, but he could be moved depending on what the Jazz decide to do. If the Bucks were to trade for either of them, Milwaukee may look to give up Grayson Allen and/or Joe Ingles. Acquiring either Beasley or Clarkson would fill the role of both Allen and Ingles.
For more:
Follow us @WiSportsHeroics for more great content. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in Wisconsin sports, click here!