The Milwaukee Bucks are in trouble. Doc Rivers’ team have won just one of their opening five games in the 2024-25 season.
The Giannis Antetokounmpo-Damian Lillard experiment is not working and there are even reports that the former is considering a trade request.
Antetokounmpo’s departure would be the absolute worst-case scenario for Milwaukee so they must explore all other avenues to turn this team into a contender again.
One move the Bucks’ front office could make is to trade away Lillard while his value is still high – an idea that NBA Analysis Network explores below.
- Milwaukee Bucks receive: Dejounte Murray, Brandon Ingram, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl
- New Orleans Pelicans receive: Damian Lillard, Bobby Portis, Pat Connaughton
Few teams would realistically be interested in trading for Lillard. He is 34 years old and on a three-year deal worth around $50 million per season.
The Los Angeles Lakers look good under JJ Redick and the Miami Heat would have to give up 24-year-old Tyler Herro – who is in the form of his life – and more to match the salaries.
But there is a Western Conference team that could also do with a roster shakeup to turn their season around – the New Orleans Pelicans.
Should the Pelicans agree to this deal, the Bucks would return two key pieces – Dejounte Murray and Brandon Ingram.
Murray is not the offensive star that Lillard is but he should certainly help Milwaukee to improve from the seventh-worst defense in the NBA.
Meanwhile, Ingram’s value is at an all-time low because he is in the last year of his contract but he is probably the best player available on the trade market.
The deal would see Khris Middleton move to the shooting guard position and the Bucks become the biggest starting five in the league.
| Starting Five | Bench |
| Dejounte Murray | Delon Wright |
| Khris Middleton | Gary Trent Jr. |
| Brandon Ingram | Andre Jackson Jr. |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | Taurean Prince |
| Brook Lopez | Jeremiah Robinson-Earl |
Sometimes, less is more. And, in this instance, trading away two fringe All-Star players for one bona fide star makes perfect sense.
The Pelicans have several quality players but not one closer (like Lillard) to get them over the line in the final minutes of games.
Plus, this move would reunite Lillard with former Portland Trail Blazers teammate CJ McCollum so there would be no chemistry concerns like in Milwaukee.
Not to mention, the addition of Bobby Portis (6’10”) would immediately fix the Pelicans’ big-man problem and improve the balance of the roster to no end.
| Starting Five | Bench |
| Damian Lillard | Jose Alvarado |
| CJ McCollum | Jordan Hawkins |
| Herbert Jones | Pat Connaughton |
| Zion Williamson | Trey Murphy III |
| Bobby Portis | Daniel Theis |
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