The Milwaukee Bucks are among six teams vying for the services of Charlotte Hornets center Nick Richards, per Forbes‘ Evan Sidery. Competing with Milwaukee are the Kings, Knicks, Lakers, Nuggets and Suns. Known for his defense and rim running ability, the 6th year player averages 9.2 PTS, 7.7 REB and 1.3 BPG.
Given that Doc Rivers already has Giannis Antetokounmpo, Brook Lopez, and Bobby Portis at his disposal, it is curious that the Bucks are on the hunt for another big. Their three man crew has been quite effective over the years and covers all the bases: defense, paint presence, passing ability, and scoring both inside and out.
Why, then, is GM Jon Horst interested in picking up Richards, and what would he have to give up to get him?
Current Trio with Brook Lopez As Starting Center Is Working Just Fine for Milwaukee Bucks
True, Lopez isn’t quite as fleet afoot as he used to be, but he remains a premier shot blocker (1.9 BPG) and an effective three-point shooter (37.3%). Either blocking shots or rolling to the rim, the quicker Richards would add off-ball explosiveness, and perhaps be less liable to blow-by’s on the perimeter, but he also offers nothing in the way of outside shooting. In his career he has attempted four three-pointers. Playing two limited shooters at the same time, Giannis and Richards, would restrict what the offense can do.
Presumably, Richards would come off the bench. Assuming either Lopez or Portis were not involved in some larger trade, the best way to play Richards and preserve the current dynamic would be to have one of those two–more often than Giannis–on the floor with him.
While that would be a feasible rotation, with Bobby Portis already coming off the bench, rostering another big man does not seem like a necessary addition. Stacking Lopez, Giannis and Portis has provided ample coverage at the power forward and center positions.
Should We Interpret Bucks’ Interest in Richards To Indicate Separate Negotiations Involving Portis, Lopez?
For the right return, sending off Lopez or Portis would not be out of the question. The Bucks have receded from Jimmy Butler rumors, but they could include either of them in a trade for a number of other candidates. For many moves Milwaukee could orchestrate, however, it may make more sense–and be much simpler in terms of salary and position matching–to include forward Khris Middleton.
If the Bucks did flip one of their treetop trio, Richards would naturally slide into the rotation. This is really the only scenario in which his addition makes sense. For a GM like Horst navigating around salary cap restrictions, one thing that makes him a viable target is his contract ($5 million salary on a two-year deal). Bang-for-buck, Richards offers nice value for what is. And, importantly, his contract is much easier to accommodate in a trade than a more expensive one.
As a second-apron team the Bucks cannot aggregate players to make up salary, nor return a higher salary than what they give up. Richards’ $5 million paycheck gives Horst more flexibility in terms of the players he can send out.
For example, in a simplistic two-team scenario, he could bring in Richards for Pat Connaughton ($9.4 million) and draft picks. In a multiteam trade, Portis or Lopez would certainly attract more interest from franchises looking to add talent, but in that case Milwaukee would want significantly more in return than just Nick Richards.
Whatever negotiations they engage in, the Bucks do not have a bounty a of draft capital to dangle. The only picks truly their own are a first and second round pick in 2021. Their other selections, first rounders in 2026, 2028, and 2030, are subject to the swap rights of at least one other team.
What they do have, though, should be enough pull something off if they can find the right partners. Richards’ estimated price is two second round picks. If they throw in something extra, and include talent and salary in the form of Lopez, Portis or Middleton, they can fetch a bigger haul.
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