There’s no denying that the Milwaukee Bucks’ core is already stacked with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard leading the way. The thing is, the roster can even become more of a threat in the NBA if they acquire Keon Ellis from the Sacramento Kings.
Ellis began his journey at Eustis High School in Florida before transferring to Leesburg High School, where he led his team to two consecutive state championships. After high school, Ellis opted for junior college basketball at Florida Southwestern, where he quickly made a name for himself. In his freshman year, he averaged 8.3 points and earned Second Team All-Suncoast Conference honors. His sophomore season was remarkable; he set school records by averaging 18.1 points and 2.1 steals per game, earning accolades as a Second Team NJCAA All-American and Suncoast Player of the Year.
In 2020, Ellis transferred to the University of Alabama, where he continued to develop his skills. As a junior, he averaged 5.5 points and four rebounds per game, and as a senior, he was named to the SEC All-Defensive Team while averaging 12.1 points and 6.1 rebounds.
Despite going undrafted in the 2022 NBA Draft, Ellis signed a two-way contract with the Kings. He showcased his potential during the NBA Summer League and later signed a multi-year contract in 2024. Notably, he scored a career-high 26 points in a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder and played a crucial role in the Kings’ play-in tournament victory over the Golden State Warriors.
Sacramento Kings’ Keon Ellis Named as Trade Target for Milwaukee Bucks
After two seasons in the league, Ellis is slowly making a name for himself in Sacramento. According to an NBA analysis by Greg Swartz for Bleacher Report, the young guard can do just that for the Bucks if the franchise acquires him,
“Ellis should be the Kings’ starting shooting guard this season, yet there’s a lot of talent in a backcourt that features De’Aaron Fox, Malik Monk, Kevin Huerter, rookie Devin Carter and others. Should Ellis fall out of the rotation, he’d be an ideal trade target for a number of teams thanks to his three-point shooting, defense, hustle and $2.1 million salary,” Swartz wrote.
Last season, Ellis averaged 5.4 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.5 assists. He also connected 41 percent from deep while playing effectively on the defensive end of the court. As such, his ability to drain long-range bombs while defending the opposing team’s backcourt will come in handy, especially since Patrick Beverley isn’t on the team anymore.
It remains to be seen whether Milwaukee will pursue Ellis or some other team will eventually get him in the future. In any case, his cheap contract and the set of skills he’ll provide will work well with the Giannis Antetokounmpo-led team.
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