Trade Notes: Suns, Bucks, Bledsoe, Monroe, Okafor
Major early-November NBA trades are rare, but the Suns and Bucks are on the verge of completing one, having agreed in principle to a trade that will send Eric Bledsoe to Milwaukee. Greg Monroe is heading to Phoenix as part of that deal, along with the Bucks’ 2018 first-round pick and 2018 second-round pick.
Gery Woelfel of The Racine Journal Times (Twitter link) expressed some surprised that Tyson Chandler wasn’t involved in the trade, since he’s a good friend of Jason Kidd, who has wanted Chandler on his roster in the past. However, Chandler is earning $13MM and is under contract next year as well, so the Bucks would have had to add another substantial salary to the deal to make that happen.
Meanwhile, Chris Haynes of ESPN observes (via Twitter) that the Suns finalized the agreement just when Bledsoe was about to return to the club’s facility to work out, which was either a fortuitous coincidence or a sign that the team really had no interest in having him around.
Here’s more on the Bledsoe trade:
- Monroe and his $17MM+ contract appear to be functioning primarily as salary filler to complete this deal, but the Suns have yet to decide whether to keep, trade, or release him, tweets John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7. If Phoenix buys out Monroe, the big man would be an “obvious candidate” to sign with the Celtics or Thunder, says Tim Bontemps of The Washington Post (Twitter link).
- After trading Monroe, the Bucks look like a match made in heaven for Jahlil Okafor, argues Bryan Kalbrosky of HoopsHype.
- While Bledsoe didn’t have a strong preference for where he ended up, Milwaukee was at the top of his wish list, according to Gambadoro, who says the point guard is looking forward to playing with Giannis Antetokounmpo (Twitter links).
- Because today’s trade is a one-for-one swap in terms of players, the Suns will still have to open up a roster spot within the next month in order to convert Mike James‘ two-way contract to a standard NBA deal, notes Bobby Marks of ESPN (Twitter link).
- The acquisition of Bledsoe doesn’t come without a good deal of risk for the Bucks, given the point guard’s injury history, writes Sean Deveney of The Sporting News.
Poll: How Will Bucks Do With Bledsoe?
Heading into the 2017/18 season, the Cavaliers and Celtics were viewed as the heavy frontrunners to represent the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals in the spring. However, the Cavs look vulnerable so far, having endured several bad losses already. And while the Celtics have been great, they’re not expected to get All-Star forward Gordon Hayward back this season, which may limit their upside.
The Wizards and Raptors are considered contenders in the East, and teams like the Pistons and Magic have been unexpectedly successful early in the season. But in the wake of reports that the Bucks are finalizing a trade to acquire Eric Bledsoe from the Suns, Milwaukee may have emerged as the most intriguing challenger for the conference crown.
The Bucks have gotten off to a modest start, losing five of their first nine games, but Giannis Antetokounmpo, the NBA’s leading scorer at 31.0 PPG, looks ready to compete for an MVP award; reigning Rookie of the Year Malcolm Brogdon has taken another step forward this season; and Khris Middleton has been productive and healthy, recording 19.0 PPG, 5.9 RPG, and 4.9 APG so far despite struggling with his shot.
Now, the Bucks are set to add another explosive playmaker to their roster with the acquisition of Bledsoe, and the veteran point guard isn’t the only notable mid-season addition Milwaukee will make in 2017/18.
The Bucks will also welcome back former second overall pick Jabari Parker at some point in the new year. Even though the Bucks played their best ball last season after Parker went down with his ACL injury, there’s no reason to believe he’d have a negative impact on the team if he’s willing to play a complementary role when he gets back on the court.
With Antetokounmpo, Middleton, Parker, Brogdon, and Bledsoe joined by a group of role players that includes Thon Maker, John Henson, Tony Snell, Matthew Dellavedova, and Mirza Teletovic, the Bucks have an intriguing mix of talent. Mitch Lawrence of Forbes makes the case that they’re capable of earning a top-four seed in the East. And if the Bucks get hot at the right time in the postseason, they’re a squad no team will want to face.
What do you think? Is this Bucks team capable of making a deep playoff run, or are they still a year or two away from taking that next step? Vote below in our poll and jump into the comment section to share your thoughts!
How will the new-look Bucks do this season?
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Win one playoff series 53% (777)
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Make it to the Eastern Conference Finals 25% (365)
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Make the playoffs, but won't win a series 16% (229)
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Make it to the NBA Finals 5% (75)
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Miss the playoffs 1% (21)
Total votes: 1,467
Trade Rumors app users, click here to vote.
Vaughn Not Surprised By Bucks' Decision
- Bucks guard Rashad Vaughn wasn’t surprised that the team elected not to pick up his option for next season, relays Gery Woelfel of WoelfelsPressbox. Considered a gamble when Milwaukee made him the 17th pick in the 2015 draft, Vaughn played 70 games as a rookie, but slipped to 41 last season. He is still just 21 and hopes for a long NBA future, although as he heads into unrestricted free agency following this season, he knows it probably won’t be with the Bucks. “It’s a business,’’ Vaughn said. “You just have to respect their decision and move on. I’m not going to let this stop me. I’m going to keep striving. That’s all I can do.’’
Giannis Antetokounmpo Isn't A Fan Of Flashy Cities
- It seems that Giannis Antetokounmpo is perfectly comfortable suiting up for a small market team like the Bucks. As Marc Stein of the New York Times writes in a feature dedicated toward the budding superstar, Antetokounmpo doesn’t particularly like flashy cities like L.A. or Miami.
Bucks Picking Up Maker’s Option, Declining Vaughn’s
The Bucks are exercising their third-year option on Thon Maker for 2018/19 in advance of today’s deadline, but will turn down their fourth-year option on Rashad Vaughn, reports Matt Velazquez of The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Twitter link).
[RELATED: Decisions On 2018/19 Rookie Scale Team Options]
The decision on Maker was an easy one for the Bucks, who used the 10th overall pick in the 2016 draft to nab the 7’1″ center. Maker, whose 2018/19 option will count against the cap for about $2.8MM, played a modest role for Milwaukee in his rookie season, but showed flashes of potential and is already playing more significant minutes this year, having started all six games at center for the club.
Vaughn, meanwhile, was one of several players I identified during the preseason as being at risk of having their rookie scale options declined. Although the value of Vaughn’s 2018/19 option is fairly modest, at $2.9MM, the 21-year-old guard has failed to have a real on-court impact through 114 games in Milwaukee.
Vaughn will become an unrestricted free agent in 2018, and while the Bucks will be eligible to re-sign him, they won’t be able to offer him more than what his option would have been worth.
Greg Monroe To Miss At Least Two Weeks
Bucks center Greg Monroe is expected to be sidelined for at least two weeks due to a left calf injury, head coach Jason Kidd confirmed on Sunday. As Matt Velasquez of The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel details, Monroe was held out of Sunday’s game against Atlanta, last seeing action on Thursday vs. the Celtics.
“He’s had a calf problem and I think he might have just hurt it again in that Boston game,” Kidd said of Monroe, who was battling the issue in training camp as well.
Although there’s no guarantee Monroe will be fully healthy in two weeks, it doesn’t sound like the injury is significant enough to result in any roster changes for the Bucks. While Monroe is on the shelf, the club figures to lean more heavily on John Henson and Thon Maker. Henson, in particular, responded well to an increased role on Sunday, recording 12 points, nine rebounds, and three blocks in a season-high 28 minutes.
Monroe has seen his minutes decline over the last couple years in Milwaukee, though he was effective as a frontcourt scorer off the bench for the team last season. When he gets healthy, he’ll be looking to bounce back from a poor start and rebuild his value as he nears 2018 free agency.
Dellavedova Seeks To Build Chemistry
- Bucks guard Matthew Dellavedova is trying to use his experience to bring chemistry to a young team, notes Gery Woelfel of The Journal Times.
Latest On Eric Bledsoe
Eric Bledsoe continues to sit out games for the Suns and, after a disastrous start to the season, the club has actually looked better with a new starting point guard — and a new head coach. Since Jay Triano replaced Earl Watson on the bench and Mike James replaced Bledsoe in the starting lineup, the Suns have won consecutive games at home, beating the Kings and Jazz.
As the Suns look to build on their recent success, here’s the latest on Bledsoe, from Gery Woelfel of The Racine Journal Times:
- NBA sources tell Woelfel that if the Bucks and Suns were to make a deal involving Bledsoe, Phoenix would likely ask for Malcolm Brogdon, plus either John Henson or Mirza Teletovic. Milwaukee has had interest in Bledsoe over the last few years, but is reluctant to part with Brogdon, the reigning Rookie of the Year, per Woelfel.
- According to Woelfel, the Bucks are – for now – dangling Matthew Dellavedova, but he’s not of much interest to the Suns — Phoenix remains focused on Brogdon.
- The Suns are eyeing young guards, and are also intrigued by Denver’s Emmanuel Mudiay. According to two NBA officials, the Nuggets and Bucks are viewed as “the leaders in the Bledsoe sweepstakes,” writes Woelfel.
- Those same two sources tell Woelfel that a number of other teams have internally discussed the idea of making a play for Bledsoe, including the Clippers, Celtics, and Heat.
Suns Notes: Bledsoe, Chandler, Watson, Okur
Although the Suns have been exploring trade options involving disgruntled point guard Eric Bledsoe, the team will likely have to lower its asking price if it hopes to get anything done, one general manager tells Sam Amico of AmicoHoops.net. While the Bucks, Nuggets, Knicks, and Clippers have all expressed interest in Bledsoe, according to Amico’s sources, that general manager believes Phoenix’s asking price is unrealistic.
“Right now, it’s borderline preposterous,” the GM tells Amico. “It should come down eventually. It has to.”
Bledsoe and his agent Rich Paul expressed a desire for a trade during the offseason, but the Suns have ramped up their efforts this week, with the Nuggets and Bucks among the most viable potential landing spots, writes Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders. Trade scenarios are still evolving, and it’s not clear how long it will take for Phoenix to find a satisfactory deal, according to Kyler, who adds that the club appears to be looking into moving Tyson Chandler too, perhaps in the same trade.
Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN chimes in on Bledsoe as well, tweeting that the Suns’ goal of landing a high-upside young player in any deal has been an impediment, since Bledsoe’s value isn’t exactly at its peak.
Here’s more on the Suns:
- In the wake of the Suns’ horrible start to the season and Earl Watson‘s dismissal, Greg Moore of AZCentral.com wonders why owner Robert Sarver hasn’t made any public comments about the team’s situation.
- In a separate piece for Basketball Insiders, Kyler wonders whether Watson was essentially set up to fail in Phoenix as the club struggles through a rebuilding process.
- Shortly after Watson was fired, Dan Majerle became the subject of speculation as a possible target for the Suns, but the team hasn’t contacted the Grand Canyon University coach, writes Richard Obert of AZCentral.com. That shouldn’t come as a surprise, according to Scott Bordow of The Arizona Republic, who tweets that the Suns haven’t contacted anyone, with Jay Triano expected to run the show for the rest of the season.
- Ken Berger of Bleacher Report takes a deep dive into the Suns’ situation and passes along a few interesting tidbits. Among them: James Jones, who joined the franchise this offseason as an executive, figures to have “significant input” when Phoenix decides on a permanent head coach.
- Former NBA big man Mehmet Okur, who was one of multiple assistants let go along with Watson, became the second member of the organization to direct a less-than-flattering social media post at the Suns this week. Chris Cole of AZCentral.com has the details, along with a screenshot of Okur’s since-deleted Instagram post.
- Speaking of assistants, the Suns have called up multiple coaches from their G League affiliate, the Northern Arizona Suns, to fill out their NBA coaching staff, per Chris Reichert of 2 Ways & 10 Days (Twitter link). Northern Arizona head coach Ty Ellis is among the coaches headed to Phoenix.
Suns Trying To Trade Eric Bledsoe
2:40pm: Michael Scotto of Basketball Insiders (Twitter link) hears that the Knicks have indeed contacted the Suns about a Bledsoe deal and Phoenix wants No. 8 overall pick Frank Ntilikina and Willy Hernangomez in exchange for the veteran point guard.
1:35pm: Add the Bucks to the list of teams that have expressed interest in Bledsoe, Marc Stein of the New York Times relays (Twitter link). According to Sam Amico of Amico Hoops, the Clippers and Blazers may also have interest in the point guard.
12:49pm: The Knicks are among the teams that have contacted the Suns about a Bledsoe deal, tweets ESPN’s Ian Begley.
12:34pm: The Suns are involved in trade talks with several teams regarding Bledsoe, tweets Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. Teams know Bledsoe is available and something should happen soon, adds John Gambadoro of ArizonaSports, who states that Bledsoe believes he has played his last game with Phoenix.
12:16pm: Eric Bledsoe‘s dispute with the Suns continues to escalate as he will be held out of tonight’s home game with the Kings, tweets Chris Hayes of ESPN. Bledose met with team officials this morning and was subsequently sent home.
Bledsoe has become increasingly more open about his dissatisfaction in Phoenix, culminating with a tweet yesterday that stated “I Dont wanna be here.” That was posted roughly an hour before the team announced the firing of coach Earl Watson.
Bledose isn’t happy to be on a losing team in the prime of his career and he has lingering bitterness with the organization over shutting him down in March of last season because of soreness in his knees. A report earlier today said Bledsoe was “depressed” after a rumored deal fell through that would have sent him to Cleveland as part of the package for Kyrie Irving.
Bledsoe, 27, has spent the past four seasons in Phoenix after being acquired from the Clippers in a 2013 trade. He had his best year in 2016/17, averaging career highs in points (21.1 per game) and assists (6.3).