Report: Milwaukee Bucks Could Shop Khris Middleton In Blockbuster Trade With the New Orleans Pelicans

This season, Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton has yet to play due to an injury. There is a chance that he could be traded at the NBA trade deadline in 2025 to unload his contract. Middleton not playing hasn’t helped this basketball at all.

At some point, the Bucks will need to find a reliable third option for Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard. For now, Brook Lopez is the third option, but they could improve in that area.

Sporting News Creates Blockbuster Mock Trade That Would Send Milwaukee Bucks Forward Khris Middleton To the New Orleans Pelicans

Sircharlesincharge.com writer Michael Saenz wrote an article about which players could possibly get traded at the 2025 NBA trade deadline. One of the players who could be traded is Khris Middleton. Sanez said:

“It’s been a pretty rough start to the season for the Milwaukee Bucks. While that’s not all that surprising considering they haven’t been completely healthy, it’s still not encouraging that this team will have an uphill battle the rest of the season. And with the way the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics have looked so far this year, there’s a ton of room that the Bucks will have to make up over the next few months. But if the Bucks aren’t able to bounce completely back from their slow start, a big move could be on the horizon.”

Because of this, sportingnews.com writer Donny Shea decided to take this idea to another level with a blockbuster trade between the Milwaukee Bucks and the New Orleans Pelicans. He has the Pelicans acquiring Middleton, Pat Connaughton, MarJon Beauchamp, A.J. Johnson, a 2031 first-round pick, and a 2031 second-round pick.

In the same trade, he has the Milwaukee Bucks acquiring C.J. McCollum and Herb Jones. Shea said about this mock trade idea:

“The injury-riddled Pelicans currently sit in last place in the Western Conference as this appears to be another throw-away season with superstar Zion Williamson. Trading away Jones and McCollum would give more opportunity and responsibility to rising star Jordan Hawkins along with Dejounte Murray.

Additionally, this move would give the Pelicans’ front office a chance to evaluate the talent of 2024 second-round pick Antonio Reeves, who has flashed in a limited sample.

Williamson offers a similar skillset to Giannis Antetokounmpo, who Middleton complements effectively. Beauchamp and Johnson give the Pelicans reasonable swings at first-round talent while Connaughton is primarily included for salary-matching purposes. The Pelicans could use the 2031 draft capital to further build for the future.

This deal would give the Bucks a lockdown perimeter defender who could slot directly into Middleton’s role. However, Jones, similar to Middleton, has only appeared in four games this season as he battles a shoulder injury. The young 3-and-D wing finished fifth in Defensive Player of the Year voting last season while shooting 41.8 percent from three.

McCollum would be brought in to reunite Lillard with his former longtime backcourt mate. McCollum would provide the Bucks with much-needed depth as a reliable ball-handler outside of Antetokounmpo and Lillard.”

C.J. McCollum as the third option on the Milwaukee Bucks would be a great fit. He would fit in alongside Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo. McCollum is no stranger to being traded and it appears as if the Pelicans could start over.

Brandon Ingram Could Also Be Traded

With the New Orleans Pelicans being one of the worst teams in the NBA this season, there is a chance that they could trade Brandon Ingram at the trade deadline. There is a chance that many teams like the Milwaukee Bucks could monitor him and also other NBA teams as well.

Ingram or C.J. McCollum would be a major upgrade as the third option over Khris Middleton. However, the trade that was suggested for the Bucks and the Pelicans would work for both parties involved.

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