Milwaukee Bucks Acquire 2 Wisconsin-Born Players in Intriguing Trade Proposal with Warriors

The Milwaukee Bucks are 16-12 and currently holding the fifth seed in the NBA Eastern Conference. They also recently won the second annual NBA Cup Championship over the Oklahoma City Thunder, the top team in the NBA Western Conference. As Giannis Antetokounmpo and other Bucks players stated after that win, though, their job is not done. They are trying to win another NBA Championship this year.

Winners of seven of their last 10 games (not including the NBA Cup Final), Milwaukee is one of the hottest teams in the league right now. Since they are all of a sudden relevant after starting the season 2-8, trade rumors surrounding the team have gone from Giannis or Damian Lillard being moved to the Bucks acquiring more talent to compliment them.

The Milwaukee Bucks Could Trade for Kevin Looney and Brandin Podziemski from the Golden State Warriors

One of the players that many fans would like to see traded is perennial Sixth Man of the Year candidate Bobby Portis, who is averaging 13.9 points and 7.8 rebounds per game this season. While he is a solid offensive player, many fans point to his alleged disinterest in playing defense as a reason why Milwaukee struggles whenever Giannis or Brook Lopez are off the floor.

One trade suggestion, though, does not include Portis or any member of the Bucks’ preferred rotational players. Donny Shea of The Sporting News recently proposed a trade that would send Pat Connaughton, Delon Wright, and draft picks to the Golden State Warriors for Kevon Looney and Brad Podziemski.

“Connaughton and Wright are primarily included to help match salaries,” Shea wrote. “Additionally, the draft capital involved could be consolidated to entice an opposing front office into parting with win-now talent. Because the Warriors are in playoff contention, a deal of this magnitude is unlikely as Podziemski and Looney are key rotations pieces.”

Looney is from Milwaukee and Podziemski is from Greenfield, Wisconsin.

The former is averaging 5.2 points and 7.3 rebounds per game this season while the latter is averaging 8.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game. Both come off the bench for Golden State.

While this trade is intriguing given the fact that Looney has won three NBA Championships and both players are from Wisconsin, it should be noted that neither player may fit the Bucks’ scheme. Looney is an undersized center (6′ 9″) that does not spread the floor. Podziemski, a guard, shot the ball well last year as a rookie, but is shooting just 27.8% from three this year.

Since neither player can spread the floor and clear the lane for Giannis and Dame, neither really makes sense for Milwaukee.