Milwaukee Bucks: Trade value rankings
Tier 2: Major assets
Major assets are players that are extremely critical to the success of the team. Again, this can be either through their on-court production, or it can be players with very team-friendly contracts that increase their value to the team since they are on bargain deals. Trading these pieces could be interpreted as a sort of desperation move, depending on the return.
An example of a team trading major pieces in a desperation move scenario is last season when the Detroit Pistons traded Tobias Harris, Avery Bradley, Boban Marjanovic, and a draft pick (which eventually became Miles Bridges) for Blake Griffin. The Pistons gutted a handful of their best starters and a lottery pick for one star player on a risky contract.
5. Brook Lopez
Brook Lopez makes this tier thanks to how little he is making. He was signed to the Bi-Annual Exception and is making just under $4 million this season. While barely making more than the minimum salary, Brook Lopez is providing tremendous worth on his contract. For example, he is the 253rd-highest paid player in the NBA this season, but has scored the 99th-most total points.
Not to mention, he’s a starting-caliber center who can space the floor and is the perfect player type to pair with Antetokounmpo. Lopez also provides a veteran presence in the locker room, and is the only Bucks starter who has started in a second round playoff game.
It would be nearly impossible for the Bucks to get a comparable return at his salary, so it would take a big move to include Lopez in a deal. The only real downside of his contract is that it is just for this year, so he will be a free agent in the offseason. If he keeps up his play, he will surely be due for a raise next season.
4. Malcolm Brogdon
Malcolm Brogdon, a second round pick, controversially won Rookie of the Year over Joel Embiid, a first overall pick. He has quietly continued to improve each season since then. Now firmly establishing himself as a starter under head coach Mike Budenholzer, Brogdon has been extremely efficient and provides valuable spacing for the Bucks. He averaging 13.9 points per game while shooting 49.1 percent from the field, 42.6 percent from 3 and 100 percent from the free throw line.
Besides his production on the floor, Brogdon’s contract is a steal. He has scored the 83rd-most points in the league, despite making the 399th-most money in the NBA this year. And at just 26 years old, it is likely he can flourish and provide at least similar production for a very long time.
Brogdon’s contract is different from Lopez though, as he will be a restricted free agent next summer, so the Bucks will have ultimate power to retain him should they so desire. This increased control, along with his Bird Rights, increases his value despite having just this year left on his deal.
3. Khris Middleton
Khris Middleton is on an extremely valuable contract earning just $13 million this year (97th-highest in the NBA), while playing at an All-Star level. All-Star level production is hard to find, but nearly impossible at his salary.
The only players who were All-Stars last year that are making less than Middleton this year are Karl-Anthony Towns and Kristaps Porzingis (both on rookie contracts this year, and each expected to make $20-plus million next year).
The only negative aspect of Middleton’s contract is that next year he has a player option which he will surely be declining to become a free agent. Any team trading for him would have to consider that it could possibly only be a midseason rental, which obviously diminishes the value.