The Milwaukee Bucks moved past the Orlando Magic into the No. 4 spot in the Eastern Conference after a decisive win on Friday night. With their latest victory, the Bucks are now just 3.5 games behind the third-ranked New York Knicks, whom they will face on Sunday.
Giannis Antetokounmpo continues to dominate the league, leading all scorers with an impressive 31.7 points per game, just edging out Nikola Jokic (31.6) and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (31.5).
Bucks Defense Strong, But Offensive Consistency Needed
As of Friday’s games, Milwaukee boasted the second-best defense in the league over their last ten matchups. However, their offense has struggled, ranking in the bottom ten for scoring during the same period. For the Bucks to maintain their success and make a deep playoff run, the duo of Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard will need a consistent third scoring option to boost the offense.
Utah Jazz Looking to Trade Veterans for Draft Assets
On the other hand, the Utah Jazz are in rebuilding mode with a dismal 9-27 record. As the trade deadline approaches, the Jazz may look to move veterans like Jordan Clarkson in exchange for draft picks or young talent to further their rebuilding efforts.
Proposed Trade: Bucks to Add Clarkson, Eubanks, and Mills
A potential trade between the Bucks and Jazz could help address Milwaukee’s scoring issues. In this proposed deal, the Bucks would acquire Jordan Clarkson, Drew Eubanks, and Patty Mills, while sending Bobby Portis, Pat Connaughton, and a pair of 2031 draft picks (a first-rounder and a second-rounder) to Utah.
This trade would provide the Jazz with additional draft capital and an opportunity to flip Bobby Portis for even more picks if they wish. It would also give the Bucks a reliable scorer off the bench in Clarkson, who is averaging 16.0 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game this season. However, Clarkson has struggled with his three-point shooting, hitting just 33.9% of his attempts this season, which is consistent with his career average of 33.5%.
Bucks Gain Depth, Jazz Add Valuable Assets
Mills, a solid depth guard with an affordable contract, would be included to help balance the deal financially. Eubanks, a solid backup center, would provide valuable minutes behind the aging Brook Lopez. Though Eubanks doesn’t stretch the floor, he’s effective in limited minutes, averaging 4.9 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in just 13.8 minutes per game this season.
This proposed trade could give the Bucks the additional scoring punch they need while also providing the Jazz with draft capital to aid in their rebuild.