Milwaukee Bucks: Can they trade for Anthony Davis?
Why would New Orleans trade with Milwaukee?
It should be stated that many other teams boast the assets to make a trade that far outstrips the Bucks’ best offer. The Boston Celtics cannot trade for Davis until this summer, but their war chest of assets is formidable. The Los Angeles Lakers have a collection of young players that still boast pedigree, while teams such as the Denver Nuggets and Toronto Raptors have talented young players with star-level upside.
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What Milwaukee will need is for the Pelicans to value the players it has on its roster. That is likely what happened with the Toronto Raptors and San Antonio Spurs last offseason, when the Spurs valued the Raptors’ assets enough to make the Kawhi Leonard trade.
They can also offer something that may help them put together an attractive offer, which is some expiring salary to help the Pelicans offload future money.
George Hill is nearly an expiring contract, with just $1 million guaranteed for next season. Jason Smith and Brook Lopez both expire after this season as well. The Bucks could trade for Davis and offer to take on a contract such as Solomon Hill or E’Twaun Moore to free up New Orleans’ cap sheet down the road.
If the Pelicans decide they would like to trade Davis outside of the Western Conference, see upside in some of the Bucks’ young pieces and are frustrated by other teams holding back their best assets, a deal could begin to form between the two sides.