If the Milwaukee Bucks are looking for a relatively low-risk deal that gets them the defensive help they need, a trade with the Toronto Raptors might just do the trick.
Milwaukee Bucks’ Defense Needs Improvement
The Bucks are in the bottom 10 of the NBA when it comes to defensive rating, ranking 21st at 116.3.
More recently, they have been in a slump, with their defensive issues preventing them to really thrive. They lost back-to-back games against the Indiana Pacers, narrowly won against the hapless San Antonio Spurs, and then lost two in a row again to the Houston Rockets and Utah Jazz.
Heading to Thursday’s showdown with the Boston Celtics, the Bucks are not really in a good position. They are clearly missing the presence of Jrue Holiday, who used to anchor the perimeter and guard the opposing best guards.
The Bucks still have Giannis Antetokounmpo, a former Defensive Player of the Year. But he can only do so much.
While he got the offensive help he needs in Damian Lillard, it comes at the expense of their defense. They are still able to stay among the top teams in the East with their offense, but they know very well they need to buckle up defensively if they want to compete for a championship.
Milwaukee Bucks-Toronto Raptors Mock Trade
In order for the Milwaukee Bucks to get that defensive help they need, Fansided proposed a mock trade that would land them Otto Porter Jr. and Jalen McDaniels from the Toronto Raptors.
Unlike the other proposed trade with the Brooklyn Nets that would require the Bucks to give up the farm, this mock deal would only need Milwaukee to give a couple of bench players–Pat Connaughton and AJ Green–and two second-round picks from 2024 and 2027.
“Jalen McDaniels and Otto Porter Jr. would give the Bucks two lengthy, tall, and versatile defenders. The former stands at 6-foot-9, while the latter is 6-foot-8. Over the past few years, the Bucks have lacked wings with such size to defend players like Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Jimmy Butler. These two would provide some assistance in that regard, fitting in seamlessly,” the report noted while explaining the rationale of the deal.
It’s also important to note that it’s a deal quite favorable on Milwaukee. While Porter’s recent battle with injuries is concerning, he has the experience to play on the biggest stage after winning the title with the Golden State Warriors in 2022.
Meanwhile, McDaniels is a promising wing who has tons of potential while still being able to contribute right away.
Having those two guys should help Milwaukee better prepare themselves for the postseason, where they need stable players to anchor the defense while Giannis and Dame do their work on offense.
Whether or not the Bucks will consider the trade remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: they have to do something prior to the February trade deadline.
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