The Milwaukee Bucks are trying to explore all avenues ahead of the 2025 NBA trade deadline. General manager Jon Horst is trying to figure out if he wants to make his team into a championship contender this season or potentially sell assets at the NBA trade deadline.

This season, the Milwaukee Bucks are 24-17 and the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference. However, some feel like the Bucks can not contend with teams like the New York Knicks, the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference. Milwaukee can very well be in no man’s land at this moment.

Sports Illustrated Suggests That the Milwaukee Bucks Trade For Washington Wizards Guard Jordan Poole Ahead Of the 2025 NBA Trade Deadline

This season, the Washington Wizards have a 6-36 record and are the worst team in the NBA. Washington can very well be a major seller at the trade deadline. Two players who could be traded away from the Wizards are Jordan Poole and Kyle Kuzma.

Sports Illustrated writer Gabe Smallson created a mock trade between the Washington Wizards and the Milwaukee Bucks. He has the Bucks trading away Khris Middleton, Brook Lopez, and a 2031 first-round draft pick to the Wizards for Jordan Poole, Jonas Valanciunas, and Saddiq Bey.

There is no question that this trade would instantly make the Milwaukee Bucks better. It probably wouldn’t be an NBA title contender, but they would get younger immediately with this trade. That is something that they need to do around Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo. Smallson said about this mock trade:

“This move can solidify the Bucks as legitimate contenders after this trade with a selling team for a few reasons.

The Bucks get a 25-year-old Milwaukee native who is in the midst of a career high in scoring named Jordan Poole.

Giving Poole a chance to not just play for a contender, but his hometown team would have him instantly make a splash with his 21.6 points per game.

Valanciunas provides a huge presence off the bench with his offensive capabilities as well as his defensive talents.

Although no current timetable to return from injury, the 25-year-old Bey provided 13.7 points per game during the 2023-24 campaign as well as a career high average in rebounds with 6.5.

Parting ways with two longtime Bucks will be hard, but for a championship, teams must make hard choices.

Middleton’s 12 years with Milwaukee helped bring the franchise their first championship since 1971, and Lopez proved to be a crucial piece to that 2021 Finals as he is currently in his seventh year as a Buck.”

This is a trade that would benefit both teams. Brook Lopez is on an expiring contract and Khris Middleton could also decide not to pick up his player option after this season. Middleton probably would not pick it up if he was traded to Washington.

Poole Is From Milwaukee Wisconsin

Jordan Poole is from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and it would be interesting to see him play for his hometown team if the Washington Wizards did trade him to the Milwaukee Bucks. Poole would be a perfect fit with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard in the starting lineup. Jonas Valanciunas would also be the starting center in place of Brook Lopez.

Also, Saddiq Bey would help off the bench along with Bobby Portis Jr. Not having Khris Middleton on the roster after a potential trade like this would be a huge win for the Milwaukee Bucks franchise.

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