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Milwaukee Bucks: 5 Ways Trade Deadline Affected Their Playoff Run

By Josh Cornelissen

Nov 4, 2015; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34), guard Michael Carter-Williams (5) and forward Khris Middleton during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Milwaukee won 91-87. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 4, 2015; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34), guard Michael Carter-Williams (5) and forward Khris Middleton during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Milwaukee won 91-87. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 24, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Jahlil Okafor (8) drives toward the net during the third quarter of the game against the Washington Wizards at the Wells Fargo Center. Philadelphia won the game 120-112. Mandatory Credit: John Geliebter-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 24, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Jahlil Okafor (8) drives toward the net during the third quarter of the game against the Washington Wizards at the Wells Fargo Center. Philadelphia won the game 120-112. Mandatory Credit: John Geliebter-USA TODAY Sports /

Roy Hibbert Traded To Denver Nuggets

Snuck between discussions of the protections on Dallas’ 2017 first round pick and confused members of media trying to understand why Chicago, and not Oklahoma City, was the one giving up a second round pick, the Milwaukee Bucks made a deadline deal. Roy Hibbert was sent to the Denver Nuggets for a top-55 protected 2019 second-round pick.

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Interestingly, the trade that the Milwaukee Bucks actually took part in may have been the one of those mentioned in this piece with the least true impact on the remainder of their season. Roy Hibbert is a shell of his former self at both ends of the court, and had yet to play a minute for the Bucks in the handful of weeks he was on the team.

Two small shockwaves radiate out from the move for Milwaukee. First, removing Roy Hibbert from the roster eliminates any temptation for head coach Jason Kidd to play Hibbert. While he does have Eastern Conference playoff experience, his athleticism has eroded to the point where he is not an impactful player anymore. Kidd would be better served finding other options at center, including putting Antetokounmpo at the pivot, before giving Hibbert significant minutes.

The other shockwave is the open roster spot Hibbert’s absence opened up. The Milwaukee Bucks filled it for the next 10 days with Axel Toupane, a forward out of France who has played for the Raptors 905 in the D-League this season. Affording themselves a look at the future while not sacrificing the present is a luxury that the open roster spot affords them.

Must Read: Houston Rockets Trade K.J. McDaniels

The Milwaukee Bucks are not a different team than they were at the start of the week, but the Eastern Conference around them has changed in subtle ways. As they seek to make a step into the postseason, the playing field is different and will afford new challenges and opportunities over the final two months of the season.

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