MILWAUKEE,WI- During the last couple of weeks the Milwaukee Bucks have told teams that Ersan Illyasova, O.J. Mayo, and John Henson are available.
We are less then 24 hours away from the NBA trade deadline, and Milwaukee has been showing some interest in another point guard, and a center. Point guard is the main position they’re seeking, but they have also showed interest in Utah Jazz center Enes Kanter. Kanter has requested a trade due to the lack of playing time he has received. When he’s received 36+ minutes he has averaged over 18 points and 10 rebounds a game. Utah however has a very high asking price for him. They want a young player plus a first round pick. Kanter would really help the Bucks this year and potentially the future center in Milwaukee if a trade is done. Kanter was drafted third overall in the 2011 NBA draft. He is just 22 years old. Wouldn’t be a bad idea for Milwaukee to really strongly try to acquire Kanter if the two sides can come to an agreement.
Milwaukee has also been trying to see what point guards are available before tomorrow’s deadline, and has showed interest in Denver’s Ty Lawson and Oklahoma City’s Reggie Jackson. Lawson is having an excellent season averaging 16.9 points a game along with 10.1 assists. He wouldn’t come cheap I’m sure Milwaukee would have to give up at least John Henson and a draft pick if they want to acquire Lawson. Maybe even Khris Middleton. Lawson would make Milwaukee an even greater contender in the post season, and would bring Milwaukee a nice guard duo along with Brandon Knight assuming he will not be dealt.
Reggie Jackson of the Oklahoma City Thunder announced he wants more of an expanded role and wants out of Oklahoma City. Jackson showed what he could do as a primary court general while Russell Westbrook dealt with injuries the past two seasons. Jackson would be a lot cheaper to get than Ty Lawson, but he is an unrestricted free agent this summer. He would be a great sixth man or even starter in Milwaukee if they played him and Knight at both guards spots. He doesn’t put up the assists Ty Lawson does, but he definitely showed he can play when he get’s the minutes. And not a bad backup plan to have in Milwaukee if Brandon Knight decides to leave.
As much as I like all of these players, Milwaukee really needs to be careful and not do a trade just to do a trade like they did when they acquired J.J. Reddick. No, they do not have a lot of cap room next year, just a tad over five million. But 2016-2018 Milwaukee will be over fifty million under the cap. Which means if they play their cards correctly they can get deals done with Knight and Middleton this season, and have plenty of room to max out Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jabari Parker after the 2017 and 2018 seasons. And they’ll even have extra room for more players.
~Tony Nechvatal
All Wisconsin Athletics 
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