LA Clippers: One trade with every team – Milwaukee Bucks

We suggest one trade the LA Clippers could make with the Milwaukee Bucks.

What do you offer to a team that seemingly has it all? What can they offer back when you’re also a team that has built a deep, championship-contending roster? Today’s trade suggestion for the LA Clippers kicks off our exploration of the Central Divison with the Eastern Conference-leading Milwaukee Bucks.

The Bucks are the top seed in the East with an NBA-best 53-12 record. They are lead by reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is the favorite to win the Maurice Podoloff Trophy for a second-straight season.

In addition to Antetokounmpo Milwaukee features a deep and balanced attack on both sides of the ball, which has lead to their success so far this season. They lead the NBA in points-per-game (118.6) and are fifth in opponent’s points-per-game (107.4). They lead the league in pace and SRS and feature the best Defensive Rating (101.9) and seventh-best Offensive Rating (112.6) in the NBA.

When everything is working so well, it’s difficult to find a hole that needs to be filled in or a piece they’d want to give up. Their biggest concern is making sure Antetokounmpo is happy and wants to remain in Milwaukee as long as possible. Winning is one way to do that, surrounding him with the talent he wants to play alongside is another.

The Bucks’ starting lineup of Eric Bledsoe, Wesley Matthews, Khris Middleton, Antetokounmpo, and Brook Lopez has played a total of 407 minutes together this season. The next most played lineup (swaps out Middleton for Donte DiVincenzo) is a distant second place with 139 minutes on the floor. If the Bucks could improve in any one area it could be with depth, primarily at the guard and power forward positions. Their versatility and ability to switch on defense help them be able to get by, but they are currently getting major minutes without much production from Matthews and Marvin Williams.

Our suggestion gives the Bucks a little more depth, and in return the Clippers get a bit of an upgrade to their starting five.

Why we suggest this trade for the LA Clippers:

The Clippers sacrifice some guard depth by giving up both Patrick Beverley and Landry Shamet and use one of their promising future assets in power forward Mfiondu Kabengele to land the 30-year-old Eric Bledsoe to upgrade their starting point guard position.

Bledsoe is an upgrade on the offensive end of the floor from Beverley, and wouldn’t be much of a step back defensively or in leadership and intensity. The Clippers can also part with some of their depth to get stronger in the top-end of their roster, as they are well stacked at every position across the board.

Would the Bucks do it?

This is a big package for the Bucks to get in return for Bledsoe. It adds depth, future stability, and doesn’t hurt their current dynamic too much in the process. It could be a win-win for two teams who might end up facing off in the NBA Finals.

Read the rest of our “One Trade with every Team” series here:

Pacific Division: Lakers, Warriors, Kings, Suns
Northwest Division: Nuggets, Jazz, Thunder, Blazers, Timberwolves
Southwest Division: Rockets, Mavericks, Grizzlies, Pelicans, Spurs
Atlantic Division: Raptors, Celtics, 76ers, Nets, Knicks
Central Division: Bucks, Pacers, Bulls, Pistons, Cavaliers
Southeast Division: Heat, Magic, Wizards, Hornets, Hawks