Milwaukee Bucks: Ranking trade chips heading into the offseason

Milwaukee Bucks trade chip No. 1: Khris Middleton

Trading Khris Middleton needs to be a last resort for the Milwaukee Bucks because quite frankly, it’s going to be difficult to upgrade from him. A threat to burst through the 50/40/90 club every year of his career, Middleton is a wonderful complement to Giannis. His size, shooting, team defense and underrated facilitating go without appreciation every single season, but the fact remains that better players are out there and if it takes Middleton to land one then so be it.

More from Hoops Habit

• 7 Players the Miami Heat might replace Herro with by the trade deadline
• Meet Cooper Flagg: The best American prospect since LeBron James
• Are the Miami Heat laying the groundwork for their next super team?
• Sophomore Jump: 5 second-year NBA players bound to breakout
• NBA Trades: The Lakers bolster their frontcourt in this deal with the Pacers

Would Milwaukee trade Middleton for Oladipo or Paul? Probably not, but maybe they’d be willing to trade him for the next disgruntled superstar looking for a change of scenery. His salary will match up with players of that caliber and his All-Star status holds throughout the league. Still, it wouldn’t make a ton of sense to move him for a player at or below his skill-level since Middleton and Giannis have amazing rapport.

The only reason this list exists is that the Bucks need Giannis to re-sign or stay past next season. Obviously, the reigning MVP would be the squad’s best trade chip, but they’re not going to move him barring news that would shake the entire league at its core. So, Middleton is the next-best player on the roster and while he’s incredibly efficient, who knows if Middleton could be the separator that Milwaukee needs as a No. 2 guy.

Middleton might be better served as a No. 3. Having a hyper-efficient scorer and defender who can match up with multiple positions and rain 3-pointers? Sounds perfect! He can play on the ball in certain scenarios and off it in others, helping out wherever he needs to position his team for success.

Middleton is the Bucks’ best trade chip for this offseason, but it’s highly unlikely he actually gets moved.