As the NBA trade deadline hurtles nearer, the Milwaukee Bucks have thus far made one move, trading Khris Middleton and Delon Wright in exchange for Kyle Kuzma and Jericho Sims. Is anything else in the works to get this team closer to a title contender?
Constant monitor of the NBA trade deadline, Sheldon Wohlman of NBA channel Utility Sports is a fan of the Bucks making one more trade to fortify their frontcourt–namely, sending out Bobby Portis, Pat Connaughton and additional salary in the form of someone like Marjon Beauchamp in exchange for the Grizzlies’ Marcus Smart and Santi Aldama as part of a three team deal involving the Brooklyn Nets.
Of course, Smart, who just returned yesterday after spending most of the season out injured, does not have to be included; assuming the Milwaukee could simply send out less salary and look to snag Aldama. On the season, Memphis’ 7-footer is averaging 12.7 PPG, 6.5 RPG. 2.5 APG on 48.9% shooting with a 37% hit rate on threes. Yea or nay?
In Trade for Memphis Grizzlies’ Santi Aldama, Milwaukee Bucks Could Maximize Tradeable Assets Without Sacrificing Talent
As part of the deal, with or without Smart, the Bucks would need to sacrifice draft capital. Is it worth it for an exchange of Portis for Aldama?
Statistically, they are fairly similar. Portis’ numbers in 2024-25: 13.6 PPG, 8.1 RPG, and 2.0 APG on 46.6% from the field and 36.2% from three. However, though the 6’10 BP certainly provides impactful size, Aldama is an even better asset in that department at an even 7-feet. He is also more of a facilitator on offense, something the team Bucks could use more of after swapping Middleton for Kuzma.
Additionally, there is a world in which the team could bring in Aldama while keeping Portis to use in a separate trade. Excluding the specific draft picks involved, here is how such a deal might look:
Bucks send: Pat Connaughton (Nets); Bucks get: Santi Aldama
Grizzlies send: Santi Aldama (Bucks), Marcus Smart (Nets); Grizzlies get: Cam Johnson, Dariq Whitehead
Nets send: Cam Johnson (Grizzlies), Dariq Whitehead (Grizzlies); Nets get: Pat Connaughton, Marcus Smart, and substantial draft capital
Recent reports suggest Brooklyn may be holding onto Johnson, but frankly this seems like a mistake if they can get a meaningful return for a player having a career year for a team that is probably still at least two seasons from playoff contention. Including the rest of 2024-25, Johnson has three years left on his contract.
Move Also Offers the Chance To Further Shed Age from Older Roster
For Milwaukee, perhaps the best element of this trade is finding a replacement for Portis while being able to flip him in a separate deal to further reinforce the roster. It also supplies a way to get rid of Connaughton (sorry, Pat).
Both big men are on expiring contracts, and if the Bucks found a way to re-sign Aldama after the season, the move would look even that much better. Not that the 29-year-old Portis is old, but Aldama offers a potentially cheaper option (Bobby makes $12.5M this season, Santi $3.9M) with the advantage of being five years younger.
This upgrade in youth fits with the Middleton-Kuzma trade, in which the Bucks exchanged a beloved but injury-scarred 33-year-old for a 29-year-old with three years of contract control remaining.
Time is running out to make additional moves, but this one offers an intriguing way to maximize assets without sacrificing talent.
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