Recently, the Milwaukee Bucks were named as one of three teams to watch over the coming week as the 2023 NBA Draft draws near. Currently, the Bucks do not have a first round pick in this year’s draft, their only pick being the very last overall selection in the second (and final) round. For a team that needs to get younger while remaining competitive, that is not a good position to be in.
For weeks, trade scenarios have been thrown around involving the Bucks and All-Stars Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday. Milwaukee is not looking to trade either of them, however, and their inclusion in trade talks is speculative and lazy. Instead, it would make more sense for the Bucks to include Bobby Portis, Grayson Allen, and/or Pat Connaughton in trade talks.
The fact of the matter is that those three players are Milwaukee’s most moveable and most desirable tradable players due to their age and friendly contracts.
A Trade Scenario for the Milwaukee Bucks that Sends Bobby Portis to the Los Angeles Clippers for Eric Gordan
While Portis is an incredible player and immensely popular with the Milwaukee fanbase, he is the team’s most valuable trade asset due to his age, offensive production off the bench, and contract. This is why the Bucks could include him in a trade with the Los Angeles Clippers that would bump the Bucks into the first round of next week’s NBA Draft.
Trade Details
Los Angeles Gets
- Bobby Portis
- Grayson Allen
Milwaukee Gets
- Eric Gordon
- 2023 1st Round Pick (30th overall)
Why Would the Los Angeles Clippers Do This Trade?
The Clippers are in a very similar situation to the Bucks in that they have an incredibly high salary cap and a number of aging stars that take up large portions of that cap. In trading for both Portis and Allen, they get minimal cap relief, but also get considerably younger. Additionally, Allen only has one more year left on his deal, and his $8.9 million will be off the books in a year.
By trading for Portis, the Clippers get a player who can still provide scoring off the bench. While he still has three years left on his deal, his $11.7 million per year salary will be a lot easier to manage.
Why Would the Milwaukee Bucks Do This Trade?
This, of course, would be a difficult decision for multiple reasons. On top of being a valuable contributor off the bench and a fan-favorite, the Bucks have virtually no depth at the power forward or center positions. If they trade Portis in a deal like this, another one will need to be made to acquire another big man.
That being said, the Bucks really want a first round pick this year. Their original first round pick in this draft was traded to the New Orleans Pelicans in the Jrue Holiday deal. If they are to get into the first round at all, Portis is probably the player that they would need to include.
By getting Eric Gordon, Milwaukee maintains its bench scoring with one of the best sixth men of his generation. Despite being a full-time sixth man since the 2016-17 season, Gordon has never not averaged double-digit points per game. He is also a 37.1% career three-point shooter, so he would ensure the Bucks do not downgrade in that regard.
Gordon is due $20.9 million this season, but then is a free agent following. The cap-conscious Bucks can easily take on his salary in exchange for Portis’ and Allen’s, but then have nearly $21 million freed up on next year’s cap.
It really is a win-win for both teams, though parting with Portis is extremely difficult given the Bucks’ lack of front-court depth.
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1 Comment
That’s not a win win. It’s a horrible trade for the Bucks. Gordon offers nothing that they can’t get cheaper (and probably do better).