While the dust has settled on the Boston Celtics trade rumors, other transactions on the horizon could be explored including the possibility a scary frontline for the Bucks.
The Milwaukee Bucks has been presented as one of the up and coming teams who can become future contenders. They already made a splash in last season’s free agency but the acquisition of Greg Monroe did not turn out as well as they expected, as Jonathan Tjarks of The Ringer illustrated.
“Greg Monroe - last summer’s big free-agent signing - was supposed to take them to another tier, but has thus far been a flop in Kidd’s system,” Tjarks wrote.
Kidd has since experimented with his lineups and recently, he has awarded Giannis Antetokounmpo with playmaking duties, as much as Kidd was a tall point guard in his day. But the Greek Freak is exactly that, a freak of nature and now he is the league’s tallest point guard.
Length and athleticism seem to be a priority for the Bucks and this was manifested when they chose to draft Thon Maker, the most enigmatic prospect, at a high no.10. While Maker has the size, he does not have the bulk and strength to be dominant inside.
Even at the trade deadline, there were already rumblings about a DeMarcus Cousins trade. The situation with Boogie is always volatile and it’s clear that the Kings are not the franchise who can rein him in.
Thus, Matt Moore of CBS Sports named the Milwaukee Bucks as one of the possible destinations for Cousins. They have the young pieces to trade. Off the bat, they have Monroe to handle the frontline scoring and Moore believes Jabari Parker could be the bait that will make the Kings bite. Because of Cousins being the best player in the trade, the Bucks should probably add a first round pick.
Monroe will play at the post flanked by young big men Willie Cauley-Stein and rookie Skal Labissiere who have the length and athleticism to cover for Monroe’s defensive shortcomings.
The Bucks could get Cousins and even his back-up Kosta Koufos, whom the Kings are also shopping. With Cousins and Thon Maker, the Bucks will have a scoring force and this will allow Maker to stretch the floor more and not be pressured to match up against stronger big men. Maker has a high ceiling and with Cousins, he can develop in his own pace. If Maker realizes his potential alongside Boogie and the Greek Freak, the Bucks could be scary.
The Kings lose their franchise player in this scenario but they get Jabari Parker, a rising star whom they could build on. The trade works on the surface and some players here are actually being shopped (Koufos, Monroe).
