Milwaukee Bucks rumors: Why trading for James Harden is unrealistic
The Milwaukee Bucks don’t have enough assets to acquire James Harden
The Milwaukee Bucks are very limited with assets due to all the aggressive moves they’ve made over the last few years. Based on what they currently have, it’s highly unlikely that the Rockets would be interested in discussing a potential deal with them centered around James Harden.
The Bucks only have control over two first-round picks (2021 and 2023) until 2027, but those picks can’t be traded unless they are swaps since the Stepien Rule states that teams are not allowed to trade away consecutive years of first-round picks. The Cleveland Cavaliers currently hold Milwaukee’s 2022 first-round pick. Besides, the Bucks’ remaining stash of picks isn’t of much value considering the success that they’re expected to continue to have in the regular season.
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Other than the possible pick swaps and a couple of second-round picks, the Bucks possess 23-year-old guard Donte DiVincenzo and 24-year-old forward D.J. Wilson as potential trade pieces. Donte is still a promising asset that certainly has value, and the Rockets would surely demand him as part of any deal for Harden.
To top the headlines, Milwaukee would most likely have to include their beloved star forward Khris Middleton in any deal for Harden as well since he’s an All-Star talent and would be needed for salary matching purposes. Middleton has been an efficient and essential part of the organization’s success over the last seven seasons, but he alone would not even be close to meeting the price tag of James Harden.
Even if the Rockets were interested in receiving a package of Middleton, DiVincenzo, Wilson, and as much draft compensation as they can get, the Bucks would still have to offer more, which leads to the next point regarding another complication.