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NBA Trade Rumors: Milwaukee Bucks Looking For Help On The Wing, Doug McDermott And Nik Stauskas Are Possible Options

By Daniel Benjamin
Published on: 02:19 PST, Sep 22, 2016

The Milwaukee Bucks are the subject of NBA trade rumors after losing starter Khris Middleton for at least six months.

Adrian Wojnarowski of the Vertical is reporting that Milwaukee is calling around the league about the possibility of acquiring a wing to compensate for the loss of Middleton, who tore his hamstring while working out at the Bucks training facility on Tuesday. He is scheduled to undergo surgery sometime within the next week, and a final timetable for his return will be decided afterward.

“We’re obviously disappointed for Khris and our team, but injuries are an unfortunate part of the game,” said Milwaukee General Manager John Hammond. “We’ll rely on our overall roster depth to help us while Khris is out for a significant period of the season.”

If Middleton is ruled out for the year, the Bucks could apply for the disabled player exception, which would give them $5.6 million to use in free agency, according to Bobby Marks of the Vertical. The team would need to open a roster spot if awarded the exception as that the team has 15 guaranteed contracts on the books.

Middleton led the Bucks last season in scoring with a career-high 18.2 points a game. The 25-year-old has been one of the best long-distance shooters in the league over the past three years, knocking down 39.6 percent of his three-point shots in 2015-16, and is a good perimeter defender. He also doled out a personal-best 4.2 assists per contest a season ago. Originally selected by Detroit with the No. 39 overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, Middleton has career averages of 13.2 points, 2.7 assists, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.3 steals in 267 career games.

Middleton was expected to be part of the core, along with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jabari Parker, to the lead the Bucks into playoff contention. Milwaukee finished 12th in the Eastern Conference with a 33-49 record in 2015-16.

The loss of the six-foot-eight shooting guard is devastating for reasons other than his production. The Bucks will now have to find a new starter, thus causing depth issues on the wing. Also, the injury dramatically changes the composition of the team’s starting lineup — with Middleton, Milwaukee’s entire starting lineup would have been six-foot-six or taller. Prior to the news of Middleton’s injury, ESPN projected the Bucks to win 40 games this upcoming season due in part to the additions of Matthew Dellavedova and Mirza Teletovic, who were both seen as upgrades.

Last year, Milwaukee had six players averaging double-figures for the season — Middleton, Antetokounmpo, Parker, Greg Monroe, Michael Carter-Williams, and Jerryd Bayless. The Bucks ranked 25th in scoring with 99.0 points a game and 21st in three-point shooting (34.5 percent). They lost Bayless to Philadelphia in free agency and O.J. Mayo (suspension) this offseason.

It will be interesting to see if Milwaukee can make a deal for any substantial player. The bigger question is who would the Bucks be willing or have to give up in a trade. Antetokounmpo and Parker are likely the only untouchables.

Monroe has been rumored to be on the trade block all summer long, so he is a candidate to be moved in a potential trade. Carter-Williams and power forward John Henson are perhaps the Bucks other best trade chips. They also own all seven of their first round selections (2017-23).

Several potential trade options that immediately come to mind are Doug McDermott (Chicago Bulls), Marcus Morris (Detroit Pistons), Andre Roberson (Oklahoma City Thunder), C.J. Wilcox (Orlando Magic), Nik Stauskas, Hollis Thompson and Robert Covington (Philadelphia 76ers), T.J. Warren (Phoenix Suns), Mo Harkless (Portland Trail Blazers), Ben McLemore (Sacramento Kings), Terrence Ross (Toronto Raptors), and Alec Burks (Utah Jazz).

Milwaukee is over the salary cap, so they don’t have the ability to add money in a trade. The Bucks, however, do still have all of their $2,898,000 room exception to spend on a current free agent or they may decide to wait to see who is released.

If Milwaukee does not immediately find a deal to its liking, the Bucks do have in-house options. The first option is to move Carter-Williams or Dellavedova over from one to the two. That would Jason Terry as the main point guard backup though he can also move over to shooting guard. Point guard Tyler Ennis is also on the roster.

Another option is to promote 2015 first round selection Rashad Vaughn to the starting lineup. The 20-year-old struggled during his rookie campaign, averaging 3.1 points while shooting just 30.5 percent from the floor and 29.3 percent from beyond the arc. Vaughn didn’t shoot much better during Summer League action, knocking down 33.8 percent of his shots overall as well as 24.2 percent of his long-distance attempts.

The injury also could mean 2016 second-round draft pick Malcolm Brogdon, training camp invitees Xavier Henry and Orlando Johnson, and J.J. O’Brien get a chance to get on the court this season.

[Featured Image by Michael Perez/AP Images]

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