Milwaukee Bucks: Analyzing Chris Paul as a realistic trade target
As the Milwaukee Bucks prepare for an aggressive championship pursuit, they could establish mutual interest with OKC Thunder guard Chris Paul.
In what could be the most important offseason for the Milwaukee Bucks in franchise history, trading for OKC Thunder guard Chris Paul could become the most important trade acquisition that the Bucks have ever executed.
Following a disappointing conclusion to the 2019-20 NBA season, Milwaukee will now enter an offseason with plenty of lingering questions surrounding the team, including how they’ll improve the roster through the trade market. It’s very likely that the Bucks will prioritize improving their backcourt due to the costly postseason struggles of starting point guard Eric Bledsoe as well as the preference to not shake up the consistently dominant frontcourt that includes league MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and All-Star forward Khris Middleton.
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Milwaukee has already been linked with other guards such as Indiana’s Victor Oladipo, New Orleans’ Jrue Holiday, and Sacramento’s Bogdan Bogdanovic to go along with Chris Paul. There has reportedly been ‘no traction’ between the Bucks and Thunder on a potential trade involving Paul at this current time, but there is still optimism that talks could generate with the trade moratorium expected to be lifted soon.
As the Bucks are set to be active in the trade market, it’s reportedly “an open secret” around the league that the Bucks will be shopping Bledsoe, potentially with other assets, in an attempt to upgrade their roster. With that being said, it wouldn’t be a surprise to anybody to see Milwaukee aggressively pursue an obvious upgrade in the backcourt.
On the other side, Chris Paul is coming off an extraordinary season with the Thunder, but multiple reports have indicated that CP3 will be on the trade block this offseason now that OKC seems to be headed toward a full rebuild. After parting ways with head coach Billy Donovan, the Thunder don’t seem to be stopping the offload process with the increasing likelihood that veterans such as Paul, Steven Adams, and Dennis Schroder could all depart as well.
Chris Paul’s short-lived, but inspiring time in Oklahoma City is more than likely to end after just one season. Meanwhile, many emerging suitors such as the New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers, Utah Jazz, and Dallas Mavericks are all reportedly interested in acquiring the 10-time All-Star. Moreover, Milwaukee could stealthily become the most attractive destination for him.
Simply put, the Bucks and Chris Paul may need each other more than ever at this current time.