Even the best players in the NBA have shortcomings. We’ve never seen a truly perfect player. With that said, the league’s elite talents are worth building around. A team builds its roster in an attempt to mitigate that shortcoming.
Take Giannis Antetokoumnpo of the Milwaukee Bucks. If he was a consistent three-point shooter, he would be a perfect player. He isn’t. As a result, the Bucks have worked to build around the only hole in Antetokoumnpo’s game. That means surrounding him with shooting.
To an extent, the plan has worked. The Bucks maintain elite spacing with Brook Lopez at the 5. With that said, spacing is one thing – and shooting is another. The Bucks could use an elite movement shooter on their roster. How about Buddy Hield of the Indiana Pacers?
The Trade Proposal
Indiana Pacers Receive: F/C Bobby Portis, G/F Grayson Allen, G/F MarJon Beauchamp
Milwaukee Bucks Receive: G/F Buddy Hield
It may be an understatement to say that the Bucks’ plan to build around Antetokoumnpo has “worked”. They won an NBA title with a very similar roster to the one that they’ve got now. This has worked at the highest possible level.
Until that is, it didn’t. Last year was a disappointing one for the Bucks. They were eliminated in the first round of the NBA playoffs. It’s possible that we’re seeing some holes in this team’s armor. The Bucks won a title under Antetokoumnpo – can they win another one?
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Buddy Hield, Milwaukee Bucks & Indiana Pacers Updates
They’d better hope so. Recently, Antetkoumnpo made some comments suggesting that if he doesn’t feel that the Bucks are positioned for another title run, he’ll leave. The Bucks need to avoid that outcome at all costs. This small market team doesn’t come by elite talent like Antetokoumnpo very often. Would this deal aid that cause?
Why The Milwaukee Bucks Do The Deal
We think so. The Bucks would lose some depth here. They’d need to find a budget replacement for Portis. On the other hand, Pat Connaughton renders Allen expendable. They’re extremely similar players.
Meanwhile, neither can shoot like Hield. That’s the point here. Hield is among the very best three-point shooters in the NBA. His ability to space the floor will make life easier for Antetokoumnpo. It’ll open up driving lanes in a way that the Bucks haven’t been able to do for their superstar to date.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Buddy Hield, Milwaukee Bucks & Indiana Pacers Updates
Losing Beauchamp stings. He’s a young player with a lot of potential. At the same time, he won’t contribute like Hield next season. The Bucks are getting the best player in this deal, and that’s what contenders do. Should the Pacers really move Hield?
Why The Indiana Pacers Do The Deal
At this price? Absolutely. The Pacers do this deal for Beauchamp. Perhaps they’d prefer not to flip Hield for him. As a fellow small market team, the Pacers are known to avoid long-term rebuilding measures. They should make an exception here.
After all, Beauchamp’s potential is too great for them to pass on. If he hits his ceiling, he’ll be the type of two-way wing that every good NBA team needs. Beauchamp has demonstrated the potential to create his own shot, and he’s a strong defensive playmaker with good instincts.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Buddy Hield, Milwaukee Bucks & Indiana Pacers Updates
Meanwhile, this deal doesn’t force the Pacers to completely bottom out. Portis and Allen are both useful rotation players. All told, this deal improves Indiana’s future without completely tanking their present. In other words, it could help them build around Tyrese Haliburton in time.
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