NBA Rumors: Milwaukee Bucks Want To Trade Michael Carter-Williams To Sacramento Kings For Ben McLemore

Milwaukee Bucks‘ guard Michael Carter-Williams is on the move. According to the NBA rumors circulating, the Sacramento Kings and Los Angeles Lakers are his most likely destinations. Where Carter-Williams goes will depend on which offer the Bucks find most interesting.

The Inquisitr recently reported about the Lakers having an interest in acquiring Carter-Williams from the Bucks. A trade could be imminent.

According to the Post-Standard, a deal between the Bucks and Lakers could be on the table. In this exchange the Bucks would send Michael Carter-Williams to the Lakers for shooting guard Nick Young. It is a fit for both the Bucks and Lakers, but will it come to fruition?

The second probable destination for Michael Carter-Williams could be the Sacramento Kings.

Per ESPN‘s Marc Stein, the Bucks and Kings were in discussions for a swap. It appears that the Kings also want Carter-Williams. The Kings once were light on point guards.

The Kings’ signing of Ty Lawson was supposed to shore up that position, but the eight-game suspension (courtesy of Sports Illustrated) of Darren Collison muddies things a bit. And if the Kings are looking towards moving on without Collison, they will have to trade him or cut bait.

Trading for Michael Carter-Williams would be a good replacement on the Kings. In fact, Carter-Williams could conceivably be an upgrade over Collison.

Perhaps the Bucks understand this point because they have asked the Kings for guard Ben McLemore. Real GM is suggesting that the Bucks’ request of McLemore has been rebuffed by the Kings. If the Kings want to do business with the Bucks, parting ways with Ben McLemore might be the sticking point.

There is currently no word about how Sacramento Kings’ coach Dave Joerger views McLemore. He has to have a favorable attitude towards the fourth-year guard, because there were an abundance of NBA rumors going on with McLemore’s name on it. Statistically, Michael Carter-Williams is a better player. Ben McLemore counters the statistical numbers with his overall potential.

Both Carter-Williams and Ben McLemore are from the 2013 NBA draft class. Being traded for each other is even in terms of the financial numbers. McLemore was taken by the Kings with the seventh pick, while Carter-Williams went 11th to the Philadelphia 76ers. Subsequently, the 76ers would move Carter-Williams to the Bucks, where he has struggled to truly find his way.

Because the Sacramento Kings have said no to the Milwaukee Bucks’ asking price, it looks less likely that they will be trade partners. The Bucks are not looking to simply give Carter-Williams away. They definitely want to trade him, although they are fine with letting him walk as a restricted free agent next summer.

The Bucks will not take a deal from the Kings just to make something happen. A heavy salary is not something that the Bucks can absorb unless it means also moving center Greg Monroe in a potential deal. For the moment, what the Bucks do not have is salary flexibility.

A larger trade between the Bucks and Kings could happen. Michael Carter-Williams and Greg Monroe going to Sacramento for Kosta Koufos and Omri Kasspi works, just do not expect it to happen.

Instead, look for the Los Angeles Lakers to perhaps increase their offer. Michael Carter-Williams for Larry Nance, Jr. is something that the Bucks may consider. Truthfully, the rumored offer of Nick Young would be acceptable if a second-round pick or two is added to the proposal.

Credit has to be given to the Milwaukee Bucks for their patience. The message the Bucks have sent the Kings, Lakers, and the rest of the NBA is that they want a viable asset or two for Carter-Williams. Carter-Williams has the potential to average a near triple-double in any season.

Players who have career averages of 14.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 6.1 assists do not come around that often. It is especially impressive given that Michael Carter-Williams is a point guard. That is worthy of the Bucks receiving a lower first-round draft pick in return.

The question is, which team will acquire Michael Carter-Williams from the Milwaukee Bucks?

Will the Los Angeles Lakers, who according to the NBA rumors are interested, step up their efforts?

Could the Sacramento Kings come in and snag him?

Each of the NBA rumors have some form of common sense to them, but as with most NBA rumors that run hot, a lot of times nothing materializes. The writing is on the wall here. The Milwaukee Bucks are going to trade Michael Carter-Williams. It is just a matter of his destination.

[Featured Image by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images]