The Milwaukee Bucks, along with the rest of the NBA world, were shocked at the recent news that the Dallas Mavericks had traded the face of their franchise, Luka Doncic, to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis. Of course, there were other players involved, but those are the two biggest names, two multiple-time All-Stars, two generational players.
Of course, Doncic is only 25 years old while Davis is playing in his age 31 season. One of these players, Doncic, has a long career ahead of him while the other, Davis, is an aging star.
It was quite a bewildering trade that has made less and less sense since it went down.
Kind of like one of the worst trades in Bucks history.
The Milwaukee Bucks Traded Ray Allen for Gary Payton in 2003
Back in 2003, the Bucks were two years removed from appearing in the Eastern Conference Finals, which they lost in seven games to Allen Iverson and the Philadelphia 76ers.
At the time, shooting guard Ray Allen was one of the most popular players on the team. He had made two All-Star teams and had averaged 21 points or more per game in three straight seasons heading into the 2002-03 campaign.
Despite this, the Bucks traded him to the Seattle Supersonics for an aging Gary Payton. As if that weren’t bad enough, Milwaukee also sent two other players and a first round pick to Seattle (they also got Desmond Mason in return).
Allen, of course, went on to have a long career, won two NBA Championships, became the NBA’s all-time three-point leader, and is one of the top 75 players in league history.
Payton, however, played just 28 games with the Bucks before leaving in free agency.
The current Doncic-Davis trade has drawn many comparisons to this Bucks trade due to the age gap between the two star players involved.
However, one former Bucks player is encouraging fans to try looking at it from a different point of view.
Milwaukee Bucks Legend Michael Redd Speaks Out on the Luka Doncic Trade
In a recent post on X (formerly Twitter), Bucks legend Michael Redd, who became Milwaukee’s starting shooting guard when Allen was traded, offered the following:
Trading away Luka Doncic, based on the info publicly available, is indefensible.
But 20-some years ago, I witnessed another “what are they thinking?” trade that launched my career. 🧵 pic.twitter.com/KB7wvGJ3yw
— Michael Redd (@MichaelRedd_) February 3, 2025
“Trading away Luka Doncic, based on the info publicly available, is indefensible. But 20-some years ago, I witnessed another “what are they thinking?” trade that launched my career.
“When Milwaukee traded Ray Allen to Seattle for Gary Payton, it was panned in the press. And the trade doesn’t stand the test of time on paper, but here’s the part nobody talks about: That move created my opportunity. I stepped into the role and went on have a pretty good run.
“So while the Mavericks’ decision to trade Luka will likely go down as one of the most puzzling moves in NBA history, somewhere in Dallas right now, there’s a player who just got their shot. Someone who’s about to seize this moment. Bad trades can still create great players.
“The next Michael Redd is out there, waiting for their chance. And this trade — as inexplicable as it is — just created that window.”
In his first season starting for the Bucks, Redd averaged 21.7 points, the first of six-straight seasons in which he averaged 20 or more points per game.
It has been just a couple of days since the Doncic trade went down, and it is too early to tell who will be the true winner of the trade. However, one of the winners could be a player, like Redd, who gets an opportunity because of it.
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