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MILWAUKEE, WI (WSAU) – The Milwaukee Bucks are continuing to discuss possible deals ahead of February’s NBA trade deadline, and a few more names have been added to the team’s ‘players to watch’ list.
According to Clutch Points Brett Siegel, the Bucks have inquired about the possibility of acquiring forward Jerami Grant and center Robert Williams III in a deal that would likely send Khris Middleton and another player like Bobby Portis to Portland. Last month, sources told Siegel that Milwaukee would only move Middleton in a deal for Heat star Jimmy Butler, but that has since changed due to Middleton’s injury troubles.
“If they do so (make a trade) and it’s not for (Jimmy) Butler, could the Bucks swing a deal for Jerami Grant and Robert Williams with the Portland Trail Blazers? This is one of a few scenarios beginning to emerge outside of being involved in a Butler deal that could play out for Milwaukee where Middleton’s tenure with the team ends,” Siegel reported.
On Friday morning, ESPN’s Tim Bontemps and Brian Windhorst reported that Khris Middleton, Bobby Portis, and Pat Connaughton are all believed to be available if they can assist the Bucks in getting an “impact player” in a trade.
The rumored deal with Portland would make sense financially, as Middleton has a 2024-25 salary of $31.666 million, Portis is at $12.578 million, and Connaughton is at $9.423 million, according to Spotrac, while Grant signed a five-year, $160 million contract with the Portland Trail Blazers in July 2023, and Robert Williams III has one year left on a four-year, $48 million contract extension he signed with the Boston Celtics in August 2021.
Williams III, who has been battling a hand injury, has averaged 6.1 points and 5.4 rebounds this season, while Grant has averaged 14.8 points and 3.5 rebounds per game thus far.
The Bucks have been linked to former All-Star guard Bradley Beal throughout the week, but NBA Insider Chris Haynes reported on Thursday that the connection between the two is “nonexistent,” as Beal, who has an ironclad no-trade clause, would likely not waive it to join the Bucks’ as anything other than a starter.
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