The Milwaukee Bucks‘ offseason has been defined by disappointment. Although the franchise managed to hold onto Giannis Antetokounmpo amid the storm of trade rumors, the Bucks aren’t necessarily a competitive team heading into the upcoming season.
The most significant moves the Bucks made were waiving Damian Lillard and signing Myles Turner in free agency. Turner’s addition does improve their defense, but by effectively replacing Lillard with free-agent signing Cole Anthony, Milwaukee has become weaker.
Antetokounmpo is in his prime, and he intends to win titles. As constructed, Milwaukee is hardly a Play-In team.
To ensure that the Bucks have some opportunity to be better next season, we present a trade proposal featuring the Toronto Raptors that could be of interest to Milwaukee.
Proposed Trade Details
Milwaukee Bucks Receive: RJ Barrett
Toronto Raptors Receive: Kyle Kuzma, 2026 second-round pick (UTA), 2032 second-round pick
This move may be a bit of a Hail Mary for the Bucks, given that they are parting with Kyle Kuzma and draft compensation. But considering the circumstances, it may be one of their only viable path to postseason contention.
The addition of RJ Barrett would be vital in bringing some semblance of balance to Milwaukee’s roster. While Antetokounmpo is one of the most dominant offensive players in the league, without adequate support, he wouldn’t be able to carry the team to victories on his own.
As a secondary scoring option, the 25-year-old guard has a lot of merit. The Raptors guard brings experienced playmaking, composure, and balanced scoring ability.
In 58 games last season, he recorded an average of 21.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game, while shooting 46.8% from the field and 35.0% from three-point range.
What is impressive about this stat line is that he did so in a system where he was neither the primary ball handler nor the primary scoring option. Paired with Immanuel Quickley and Scottie Barnes for most of the season, Barrett found a way to be productive even in these limited circumstances.
On the Bucks, Barrett would have a more central role. Effectively becoming the primary playmaker next to Antetokounmpo, the guard would be responsible for dictating the pace and the flow of the offense.
Additionally, his arrival would also relegate players like Cole Anthony or Kevin Porter Jr. to the bench. This unintentionally fortifies Milwaukee’s depth by making provisions for scorers who can provide instant offense.
The adjustment period with Barrett and Antetokounmpo may not be significant for the guard, considering he has experience playing with a similar type of player in Barnes. The eventual outlook should allow the Bucks to be a competitive side, barring major injuries.
Meanwhile, this deal has some benefits for the Raptors as well. When considering how many rumors Barrett has been involved in this offseason, it does seem like they intended to part ways with him. In this regard, acquiring Kuzma and draft compensation is favorable.
Kuzma is currently set to have a $22.2 million cap hit with two years left on his contract. Considering that Barrett was expected to take $27.7 million off the cap, the Raptors would shave $5.5 million in salary with this move.
The 30-year-old forward isn’t the player he was with the Lakers, but he still has the makings of a productive role player. Last season, he recorded an average of 14.8 points and 5.7 rebounds on shooting splits of 43.6% from the field and 30.7% from three-point range.
On the Raptors, Kuzma would be relegated to the second unit, potentially becoming a backup for Barnes. But this could be beneficial as Kuzma is a very capable scoring force when put in the right situations.
Surrounded by solid playmakers who can find him on open looks, a move to the Raptors could be mutually beneficial for the player and the team.
Toronto ended last season as the 11th seed in the East, barely missing out on an opportunity to compete for a playoff berth. While Kuzma’s addition doesn’t improve their chances dramatically, having a player with playoff and championship experience could help them sustain their efforts.
The Bucks May Have Missed Their Window
Although the offseason will continue, the Bucks may have missed their window to bring in reinforcements for the upcoming season.
While key free agents have been joining teams, or at least having handshake agreements in place, the Bucks have made no such moves. Instead, they have seen several assets head out, including veterans like Brook Lopez and Pat Connaughton.
While the team still features role players like Bobby Portis and Taurean Prince, it simply may not be enough to secure a playoff berth or maintain relevance in the Eastern Conference.
