NBA Trade Deadline: 5 teams primed to make big trades

2. Milwaukee Bucks

The Bucks entered this season with new jerseys, a fresh coat of paint on their home court, a new star in Greg Monroe, and expectations that they could continue their climb up the Eastern Conference. Yet, as the weeks have gone by, the hopes of fans have gradually been crushed as their once signature defense has fallen off the map while their offense has been far from prolific as well.

One of many reasons as to why their defense has fallen so much is their lack of rim protection with Monroe playing 30 minutes a night. Just a season ago they ranked 2nd in defensive efficiency and 4th in opponent field goal percentage within five feet of the basket. Now, they rank 25th and 12th, respectively, in those categories.

Unsurprisingly, Monroe has now been mentioned in trade rumors, along with most other players on the roster.

While rumors are ever-changing in the craziness of the NBA trade deadline, Gery Woelfel of the Racine Journal-Times has reported that nearly everyone on the roster is available for a fair price:

"Based on conversations with several NBA execs from the Eastern and Western conferences, the Bucks are more than receptive to playing “Let’s Make a Deal.’’ … But Carter-Williams isn’t the only frontline player the Bucks are apparently willing to move. A much bigger surprise is the Bucks have made it known that center Greg Monroe is available at the right price, according to some NBA officials… “From what I’m hearing is they (the Bucks) are willing to trade anybody not named Parker, Antetokounmpo or Middleton,’’ an NBA executive said. “I even heard they’d listen (to offers) for Parker and Middleton, but it would have to be some crazy offer. “They want to do something; they know they have to do something. That group they have isn’t working.’’"

Just months ago, Monroe was possibly the Bucks’ biggest free agent addition ever. Now, he could be a part of a major trade. Is there a chance he could go to the New Orleans Pelicans in a package deal for Ryan Anderson? Who knows, that’s just one of the many hypotheses that will be thrown around prior to the deadline. Yet, if Woelfel’s report is anything to go by, the Bucks are considering their options and they’re willing to use most of their roster to make something happen.

Their young trio of Khris Middleton, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jabari Parker is a majorly talented one with a combination of driving ability, shooting, size, and sheer athleticism. But pretty much everything else in Milwaukee is far from being quite so exciting.

Monroe has been a double-double machine this season with 9.7 rebounds and a career-high 16.7 points per game, along with a career-high PER of 23. With a range of post moves, he gives the Bucks another go-to offensive option and that can’t just be ignored. His lack of awareness and determination as an interior defender is what leaves so much to be desired, though. So, when considering what the Bucks need to address, you have to think they’ll pursue a better defensive big man to solidify their resilience in the paint if they trade Monroe.

There haven’t been too many teams that Milwaukee have been seriously linked to so far, and there haven’t been many clear-cut targets that have emerged. We’ll wait and see how this situation unfolds along with every other team around the NBA, but this Bucks squad — that once had so much promise — could look rather different in a week’s time.

Next: Trading to avoid loss