The Milwaukee Bucks have quite a few challenges they will need to face this offseason as they reconstruct their roster. Granted, they have two great building blocks in Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard, but the amount of money they are paying those stars, as well as Khris Middleton, Brook Lopez, and other veterans who have been with the team for a while, make it impossible for them to sign any free agents to any contract other than a veteran minimum one.
Another challenge is that, due to their spending, they are in the second apron of the NBA luxury tax. This means that they any trade they partake in must have equal salaries involved. In other words, they cannot shed salary cap space by trading a more expensive player. They need to bring in as much money as they send out.
This does not mean that working out a trade will be impossible; it just means that it will be difficult. However, one long-time starter has become the subject of trade rumors and speculation ever since former Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer was hired by the Phoenix Suns.
Milwaukee Bucks Center Brook Lopez Named in Phoenix Suns Trade Rumors and Speculation
Ever since Budenholzer was hired by Phoenix, there has been one name that fans on social media have begun naming a possible trade target for the team: Bucks’ center Brook Lopez.
@Suns We need Jonas Valanciunas and Brook Lopez and no one is seeing us once we get a solid PG.
— Austin Green (@AMGMastermind) May 11, 2024
Suns can have Brook Lopez he fits Bud’s scheme perfectly!
— Fgorndy (@Fgorndy) May 10, 2024
If through the Bud and Chauncey hires the Suns manage to get Brook Lopez and Malcom Brogdon, then consider it a win.
— Suns Report (@TheSunsReport) May 9, 2024
Brook Lopez, Saddiq Bey, Torrey Craig https://t.co/3n4Ggw7Lll pic.twitter.com/NFGxGjYiWW
— Suns Report (@TheSunsReport) May 11, 2024
Now, as mentioned, working out a deal for Lopez would not be impossible; however, it would be extremely difficult.
How Would a Trade Between the Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns Work?
According to Spotrac, Lopez has a salary cap hit of $23 million next season. Therefore, Milwaukee would need to take back $23 million worth of salary from the Suns in a potential trade.
Jusuf Nurkic has a salary cap hit of $18.1 million next season, so he could be a potential piece in a trade, but the suns would need to include more players to make up for the difference in salary. They would have to fill the trade with a combination of their lowest paid players, such as David Roddy, Damion Lee, or Drew Eubanks.
Is a Brook Lopez Trade Likely to Happen for the Milwaukee Bucks?
As mentioned previously, any trade that the Bucks might explore this offseason is going to be very complicated. They can work on potential trades, but the players involved may not be who Bucks fans may think will be.
A potential trade should also serve the purpose of improving the Bucks’ roster, and the Suns simply do not have the players available in a trade that would serve that purpose. Moving Lopez to Phoenix sounds more like fantasy than actual reality.
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