3 early Bucks trade targets in 2024 NBA offseason

Another year, another early playoff exit for the Milwaukee Bucks. Even with the addition of superstar point guard Damian Lillard alongside the elite duo of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton, the Bucks fell in the First Round of the NBA Playoffs for the second consecutive season despite being the higher seed.

With two more years of Lillard, Giannis, and Middleton under contract, the Bucks must aggressively build a team for playoff success before their championship window closes. Here are three early trade targets for the Bucks in the 2024 NBA offseason.

Bucks’ needs

Consistent three-point shooting

The Pacers demonstrated the importance of three-point shooting against the Bucks — namely the value of having a lineup with five shooters on the floor. Indy’s ability to spread the floor created numerous problems for the Milwaukee defense, with Six Pacers players attempting at least 20 threes in the series while just four for the Bucks.

Malik Beasley — Milwaukee’s floor-spacing addition last summer — is a free agent this offseason. Beasley led the team, shooting 41.3% from deep on the year on 6.9 attempts per game. But the guard was a streaky shooter, hitting 44% of his three-pointers before the All-Star break and just 35.6% after the festivities in Indianapolis. Beasley was one of two Bucks players, along with Bobby Portis, who finished in the top 75 in three-point percentage this year.

Athletic wing defenders

The Bucks spent five second-round picks on Jae Crowder, who failed to live up to his label as one of the best three-and-d wings in the NBA. Crowder was unplayable for much of the Pacers series and is likely leaving as a free agent this summer. The Bucks struggled against Pascal Siakam and Tyrese Haliburton’s size and were forced to collapse on them defensively. This opened up opportunities for the Pacers’ three-point shooters. Andre Jackson Jr. should step into a bigger role next year, but Milwaukee needs a veteran athletic wing.

A center who can defend the pick-and-roll

Brook Lopez still has value as a three-point shooter and rim-protector, but Indianapolis exposed the veteran center defensively by forcing him to defend the pick-and-roll. Lopez lacks the quickness to survive in the P&R, and his drop coverage forced other Bucks defenders to collapse — creating open three-point shots for the Pacers. This is a need the Bucks should address in a draft with numerous athletic big men available.

Bucks trade targets

Matisse Thybulle (Portland Trailblazers)

Length, shooting, defense, experience — Matisse Thybulle has all of the skills the Bucks are looking for in a wing player. Thybulle was a two-time All-Defensive Team nominee with the Philadelphia 76ers, as the 6-5 guard uses his 6-11 wingspan to disrupt opponents. Offensively, Thybulle is a low-usage player who still carries value, shooting 35.4% from deep over the last two years but undertaking an expanded role for the lowly Trailblazers this season.

With an $11 million cap hit in 2024-25, Matisse Thybulle is a more affordable trade option for the Bucks at a position of need.

Bruce Brown (Toronto Raptors)

One of the NBA’s elite role players, Bruce Brown would be a huge addition to the Bucks — but at a steep price. Brown carries a $22 million salary for the upcoming season and the Raptors are looking to get a first-round pick and a solid young player out of a potential trade deal. It will be difficult for the Bucks to meet that evaluation but Milwaukee could look to add other trade partners to make this move work.

Alex Caruso (Chicago Bulls)

Milwaukee has long coveted Alex Caruso but has been unable to get a deal done as the Bulls guard keeps raising his value. Caruso was a 2022-23 All-Defensive First Team honoree and shot 40.8% from deep in 23-24 while providing 3.5 assists per game. The 6-5 guard brings the hustle and intensity to make up for the likely departure of Pat Beverley and is very affordable at $9.8 million this year.

Caruso has one more year on his current contract before entering free agency, which should lower his price tag slightly, but he will still be a tough asset for Milwaukee to acquire.