The Milwaukee Bucks could be adding a nice scoring threat next to Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Kevin O’Connor of Yahoo! Sports can see the Bucks getting into the mix as a third team that sees Jimmy Butler heading to the Phoenix Suns.
FanSided provided a trade scenario that could potentially benefit all teams involved:
Bucks Receive: Bradley Beal, 2031 second-round pick (PHX)
Suns Receive: Jimmy Butler
Miami Heat Receive: Khris Middleton, Tim Hardaway Jr., MarJon Beauchamp, 2031 first-round pick (PHX)
Detroit Pistons Receive: Bobby Portis, Pat Connaughton, Alec Burks, 2031 first-round pick (MIL)
Even at Beal’s skyrocketing salary north of $50 million per season, he would represent a clear upgrade over Middleton at this stage of their careers.
The former 30-point-per-game scorer remains productive in that department, averaging 18.5 points on 48.5% shooting as the third option behind Kevin Durant and Devin Booker. The only real concern is injuries, though the Bucks wouldn’t need him to play in every game.
Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard are more than capable of carrying the scoring load, but it’ll be beneficial for Milwaukee to have a third scorer deep in the playoffs when teams swarm the paint to mitigate what the two-time MVP does best.
The Bucks have also been linked to Butler, though his desire to join the franchise is unknown, at best.
Because the Bucks are limited in trade assets to upgrade the team around Antetokounmpo, Beal may be the most realistic guy they can add who could turn out to be the difference-maker they need.
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