Bucks Urged to Pair Giannis Antetokounmpo With 6-Time All...

By Justin Grasso

Contributing Sports Writer

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Keeping Giannis Antetokounmpo happy this season is the top priority for the Milwaukee Bucks, who had a bit of a slight scare over the past summer.

Giannis publicly made it clear he wants to stay with the Bucks, but he also noted that the situation could be reassessed months from the start of the season. Translation: the success of the Bucks this season will determine what he does in the future.

Therefore, the Bucks need to prove to their franchise superstar that they can contend for a title. Without any notable star-caliber additions over the summer, the Bucks could be looking into making big changes through the trade market this year. Last week, it was reported that the Bucks have eyes on Sacramento Kings forward Zach LaVine.

Bleacher Report’s Erik Beaston advises them to go in a different direction and target his teammate, DeMar DeRozan.

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“With Kuzma's scoring diminishing significantly over the last three seasons, trading for a player who has been a 20-point producer consistently for the majority of his career would be a significant upgrade for a Bucks team that is 9-12 and outside of the playoff picture,” Beaston wrote.

This year, DeRozan has appeared in 21 games for the Kings so far. He is knocking down 49 percent of his shots from the field, producing 18.4 points per game. While he hasn’t been a strong three-point shooter throughout his career, DeRozan has knocked down 38 percent of his threes, which is well-above his career-average.

As of now, DeRozan is going through year 17, spending his second season on a struggling Sacramento squad. As the Kings are quickly entering “blow-it-up” territory, the $73 million man should be at the front of their trade block line.

DeRozan doesn’t have an NBA title, but he’s been to the playoffs seven times, with 63 games under his belt. He’s a win-now type of player who has averaged 21.8 points per game in the postseason.

Similar to Milwaukee’s recent moves to acquire notable veterans, a DeRozan acquisition might not immediately boost them into championship contention, but it shows the face of the franchise that they are doing all they can to keep him satisfied.

With Giannis re-entering the Bucks’ lineup after missing some time due to an injury, Milwaukee will get another look at its current roster with its top star in action. With a better sample size, the Bucks can get a better idea of which potential trade pickup could be the better option. In this case, DeRozan is argued as the top candidate, but LaVine should still remain on the radar.

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