Trade season has already arrived around the NBA, with Desmond Bane going to the Orlando Magic in a deal involving Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony, the No. 16 pick in the 2025 draft, unprotected 2028 and 2030 first-round picks, a top-two protected pick swap with Orlando in 2029 and an unprotected first in 2026 that could be Orlando’s, per The Athletic.
It was a shocking move, one that many viewed as an overpay. For the Milwaukee Bucks, that's horrible news.
The Bucks don't have many assets to make a blockbuster deal during the offseason, but the same has been said over the past few years.
Despite that, general manager Jon Horst has done an excellent job making splash trades. If there's one thing Bucks fans can be critical of him about, it's the fact that he doesn't win trades on the margins. Outside of that, Horst understands how to get stars to Milwaukee.
In a recent trade idea from Sports Illustrated, the Bucks would accomplish just that in a deal for Lauri Markkanen. The trade would move on from Kyle Kuzma, Bobby Portis, and much more in a three-team deal.
Atlanta Hawks Receive: Bobby Portis
Milwaukee Bucks Receive: Lauri Markkanen, Kobe Bufkin, Svi Mykhailiuk, Dominick Barlow, 2025 1st round pick (via MIN, from UTA, #21), 2025 2nd round pick (via LAC, from UTA, #53), 2031 2nd round pick (via ATL)
Utah Jazz Receive: Kyle Kuzma, Pat Connaughton, Dominick Barlow, 2027 2nd round pick (via CLE, from ATL), 2031 1st round pick (unprotected, via MIL)
“Markkanen was one of the most desirable players after the 2023-24 season due to a fantastic season where he averaged 23.2 points and 8.2 rebounds on 63% TS, 40% from three on eight attempts per game and 41.4 percent on catch-and-shoot threes.
“Swapping him in for Kuzma would be an instant upgrade and his down season last year still yielded 19 points and 5.9 rebounds on 42.3/34.6/87.6 shooting splits despite struggling with injuries for most of the year. He's a massive wing who can line up at either SF or PF, firmly in his prime at 28 years old and he's already signed for the next four seasons,” SI wrote.
If all the Bucks had to do was move on from this type of package for a player of Markkanen’s caliber, it seems like a no-brainer.
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While he's a bit overrated, having played in only 55 games in 2023-24 and 47 last season, averaging 19 points and shooting 34.6% from 3-point range, he’s proven to be an above-average 3-point shooter during other parts of his career and can guard 1-5.