The Milwaukee Bucks have had a slow start to the season and could look to improve their roster before the NBA trade deadline.
The Bucks are searching for proven talents who can help their team immediately, per NBA Insider Chris Haynes.
“The Milwaukee Bucks are in desperate pursuit of trying to look out on the trade market and see if they can a difference-maker,” Haynes said. “Sources have relayed to me that they are canvassing the market.”
Haynes mentioned Sacramento Kings guard Zach Lavine as someone the Bucks have discussed. Lavine, who’s in his second season in Sacramento, is averaging 20.2 points and shooting 38.5% from 3-point range this year. He’d give Milwaukee a veteran scorer who can take some of the pressure off star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo.
“One of the guys that I identified was Zach Lavine of the Sacramento Kings,” Haynes said. “He is one player they have done their homework on. It hasn’t been any concrete, serious talks to this point. But he is someone who is on their radar.”
Milwaukee is 11-17 and has fallen behind in the Eastern Conference playoff race. They’re the No. 11 seed in the East, 10.5 games behind the 1st place Detroit Pistons. As trade talks surrounding Antetokounmpo grow louder, Haynes said the Bucks’ front office is under pressure to be aggressive.
“Giannis Antetokounmpo has put pressure on the Bucks to make some moves,” Haynes said. “The Bucks, I am told, are buyers, and they are trying to figure out a way to bring in a difference-making type of player.”