FanPost

Bucks Free Agency, Trade Options

Free Agency has been a whirlwind of transactions and confusion for everyone in the NBA and all who surround it, no question about it. Players have been moving to different teams at a rapid, perpetual pace and most fans have surely had a hard time keeping up with the latest news. A team that, in my perspective, has unfortunately been a mellow wallflower this summer is our very own Milwaukee Bucks. The Bucks undoubtedly need some more rebuilding help and with signings of the right guys and a couple needed swaps, the Bucks could be in very good shape to start off their steady upswing. Despite the removal of some names on the Bucks "to do" list, the free agency sea is still full of big catches MKE should try to reel in.

Player #1. Eric Bledsoe

Eric Bledsoe is a guy the Bucks have been rumored to be linked to and is the type of player Marc Lasry and Wes Edens should be in search for. Bledsoe led a Phoenix Suns team that was on the verge of making the grueling Western Conference Playoffs. Bledsoe can come in and run the point for Milwaukee but won't need to score to do so. Now with Jabari Parker and Giannis Antetokounmpo being the Bucks' main offensive focuses, Bledsoe would likely only have to contribute 12-15 PPG, a decrease from his last years' point production. Although he won't have to score the ball, Bledsoe is a guy who nevertheless will do so due to his high-motor, do-it-all nature. Other than scoring, Bledsoe averaged 5.5 assists (26th in the league) and 4.7 boards (good for 4th among the leagues Point Guards) while his 17.7 PPG mark put him at tenth for the leagues point guards, in his first starting stint.

Why This Makes Sense: This one seems to be a pretty perfect fit in Milwaukee. Bledsoe can come in and be an "immediate contributor" all over the floor and may, in my opinion, fill Milwaukee's unresolved need at the 1. It doesn't help that in Phoenix a total overload has been issued at guard and Bledsoe would only add to the backcourt logjam. Milwaukee surely has their fingers crossed that any offers aren't matched if they go through with the creation of an offer sheet for Bledsoe.

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Player #2. Dwyane Wade

The future of Dwyane Wade at this point is still uncertain. His entire career, up until this point, has been played in Miami and there isn't a whole lot of reason to believe he'd leave his home of 11 successful years to join the rebuilding Bucks. BUT, nothing is ruled out at this point. After all, he is (somewhat surprisingly) the last of the Big 3 to decide his fate. Other than Miami, little is known regarding the potential whereabouts of Wade's destination. Chicago has been quietly rumored to have reached out, but same story here as above, nothing is certain yet. So, enter Bucks. With an apparently small market for Wade, why not pursue a needed position and get the cream of the veteran leadership crop on a very young, inexperienced team. Wade played his college ball in Milwaukee at Marquette and is still loved by Wisconsin sports fans and would be royally embraced and accepted on the team. As for how Wade plays, I still believe he has around 3 good years left in his tank (see 36 year old Manu Ginobili). Wade has held one of the league's 3 best shooting guard PER marks in the league since 2006, and has been no. 1 in the category for 6 of the 8 years (finished 2nd last year). Depending on how he was used, Wade may carry a heavier load in Milwaukee, but even so his production could very well jump.

Why This Makes Sense: It's Dwyane Wade's smaller, much less important version of a homecoming (even though its still a big deal). Wade also has the opportunity to earn much more money than he would in Miami and he'll still be around a good group of coach-able players while helping his hometown team build for the future.

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Player #3. Evan Turner

Is it me, or does Evan Turner seem to be a forgotten member of this year's free agency crop? His name has certainly been left out of any major talks around the league and he has had undeserving dementia around his name in general. Turner started the season in Philly and surprising to many people was off to an exceptional start -- averaging 17.4 points, 6.0 boards, and 3.7 assists in 54 games. So, Turner has clearly "still got it". Turner was famously traded to the Pacers and had his minutes cut nearly in half, thus taking a toll on his averages across-the-board. However, despite dropping in PPG, Turner's percentages pleasantly remained on par with those he had in Philadelphia. Turner would slide in the lineup nicely at both the shooting guard and small forward position, and may even be able to pick back up some point guard minutes. Turner's solid shooting percentages and fundamentals are something the Bucks can use a lot of. On the financial side of things, Turner should probably not be too high ticket of an item and should be very affordable, especially if they're able to dump off some heavy salary baggage.

Why This Makes Sense: Turner is just 25 years of age and is qualifying of Milwaukee's future plans. The ability to play the SG position only helps Turner's cause, as it is arguably Milwaukee's weakest position and also contributes to the lengthy lineup the Bucks have built. At the end of the day, it would be hard imagining Turner NOT contributing greatly to a weaker team, just as he did in Philadelphia.

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Player #4. Rajon Rondo

Regardless to whether or not Rondo's name has been associated with the Bucks, Milwaukee should be after a talent like Rondo to run the show. The 28 year-old floor general would come in and act as a face of the franchise while providing leadership but also playing through his prime with the team. Bringing an All-Star to a team with untapped potential would work wonders and help everyone blossom to their maximum. Along with Rondo's obvious knack for the assist, he would contribute scoring, but most importantly with his defensive efforts and constant spark. Try telling me a team led by Rajon Rondo and his wing-men Jabari Parker and the Greek Freak, Giannis Antetokounmpo, wouldn't be downright scary on the break. With a roster filled with replaceable guys, the Bucks should definitely explore the option of trading for Rajon Rondo. The only core players the Bucks should be locking up are Giannis Antetokounmpo, John Henson, Nate Wolters (to an extent), and, of course, Jabari Parker. This leaves more than enough possibilities for the Bucks to trade in a deal for Rondo. The boost Rondo would bring to the team is too much to ignore.

Why This Makes Sense: Rondo to the Bucks would almost certainly have to come through a trade, and trade assets are plentiful for the Bucks. From Brandon Knight and O.J. Mayo, to Larry Sanders, Ersan Ilyasova, and even a guy like Carlos Delfino, Milwaukee has plenty of options for Boston or the receiving team to choose from (here's a situation where it all goes down). Rondo would be the facilitator of a young team and help progress the careers of Giannis Antetokounmpo, John Henson, and Jabari Parker at a much higher pace and brings Milwaukee its first true point guard since Gary Payton in '02-'03, arguably.

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This concludes my article, please comment below!

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