Bucks reportedly pursuing Alex Caruso to bolster perimeter defense

The Milwaukee Bucks made a shocking in-season coaching change earlier this week, but the Eastern Conference contenders are reportedly not done wheeling and dealing.

According to Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports, the Bucks are "considering different combinations of trades" to help shore up their perimeter defense, with the likes of Chicago Bulls guard Alex Caruso, Portland Trail Blazers forward Matisse Thybulle and LA Clippers forward P.J. Tucker emerging as possible trade targets.

To land one of the aforementioned defensive aces, the Bucks could package veteran wing Pat Connaughton, guard Cameron Payne and a second-round pick, sources told Fischer. 

While the combined $12.5 million salary between Connaughton and Payne would be sufficient to land one of the three trade targets, Caruso would be more of a pipe dream scenario due to Chicago’s steep asking price for the dynamic two-way guard.

The Bulls are reportedly seeking "multiple first-round picks" to even consider parting with Caruso — a package Milwaukee simply can’t put together. 

Following the Damian Lillard-Jrue Holiday trade last September, the Bucks no longer have any outright first-round picks to offer. However, they can add secondary swaps to picks that were sent out to the Pelicans and the Blazers as part of the Holiday and Lillard trades. It would take a lot of creativity on GM Jon Horst's part to attempt a trade for Caruso, a proven winner and former NBA champion.

Fischer noted the Bucks have also set their sights on Dejounte Murray and Bruce Brown, two other players that would require a ton of draft compensation to pull off a trade for. To pursue either player, the Bucks would have to part with Bobby Portis and his $11.7 million salary.

Realistically for the Bucks, Thybulle and Tucker are a lot more obtainable at this point. While Thybulle has earned two All-Defensive honors in his career, Tucker was an integral part of Milwaukee’s 2021 championship team.