This Milwaukee Bucks Trade Would Work but would be Wild
Zion Williamson is only 23 years old. It feels like he has been in the league for years, partially because of all the massive press coverage that has surrounded him. He is on a massive contract (5 yrs-$197 million). That is why any of this could be even remotely possible: there is a chance New Orleans will want to move off this deal.
Pairing Zion with Lillard and Giannis for the 2024-2025 season would certainly be one heck of a “last ride”, assuming Giannis and Dame take on that “championship or bust” mentality. Lillard’s last contract year is the 2024-2025 season where he has already exercised his player option to play for Milwaukee. Then he becomes an unrestricted free agent, and could return to Portland or play somewhere else to “ring chase”.
Giannis is signed through the 2026-2027 season. He has a player option for the 2027-2028 season which he will most likely decline and become an unrestricted free agent.
The Giannis/Dame experiment has always been set up as a two-year deal.
Also, in this mock deal, the Bucks would receive Trey Murphy III, a solid shooting guard who is really coming into his own. That would spell the end for Malik Beasley.
Here is the basic breakdown.
Milwaukee Bucks Receive:
- Zion Williamson ($34 million cap hit)
- Trey Murphy III ( $3 million cap hit)
New Orleans Pelicans Receive
- Khris Middleton ($31 million cap hit)
- Pat Connaughton (9 million cap hit)
- 2024 Milwaukee Bucks 1st Round Pick
- 2026 Guaranteed 1st Round Pick (not just a swap)
Related: Bucks vs Knicks Game Preview
The Stats on Williamson and Murphy
Zion Williamson was the first overall pick in the 2019 NBA draft out of Duke. His college numbers were impressive and his potential has always felt immense.
That idea, “immense”, has continued to be the knock on Williamson. He has struggled with weight and being in and out of playing shape.
Just looking briefly at his career, statistical averages, they still are quite impressive. Over his NBA career he has averaged 24.7 points per game. His field goal percentage has also been very good (59%). It helps when you dunk so much.
In a potential Giannis/Dame match-up, Zion would simply be another bull in the china shop. As He attacks downhill and as Giannis also attacks downhill, it would be tough for defenses to try to contain that scoring, given everyone was healthy.
Interestingly enough, Trey Murphy III was drafted two years after Zion but is the same age. He has had somewhat of a breakout season, upping his scoring average to 14 points a game. Recognized as an above-average defender, Murphy is also an above league-average three-point shooter.
Of course, all of this only happens if Milwaukee loses in the first-round. If they make the ECF, Middleton is going to certainly stay.
A Lot will Change if Milwaukee Loses again in the First Round
Will the Bucks stick with Doc Rivers? Would Giannis push to leave?
Those are two huge questions the franchise would face if this team can’t at least win a playoff series.
The Bucks, currently, are the number two seed in the east. They also have other “positional needs”, other than possibly trading for “another Giannis”.
Who is going to play center in the future? Do the Bucks need a “true” center?
Resigning Brook Lopez appears to have worked out really well for the Bucks. He has played well and has done a good job in the 2023-2024 NBA season. But the team will need a new center soon.
The 2024 NBA Center Free Agent Market has some interesting names the Bucks most certainly won’t go after like Nic Claxton, Andre Drummond, and Mason Plumlee. But that may be a “future need”, not a “want” like acquiring Williamson would be.
There have been plenty of rumors that the Bucks do keep this year’s first-round pick that they may have an interest in Purdue center Zac Edey.
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