Report: Bucks ready to trade this player from 2021 championship team

Getting rid of head coach Adrian Griffin might not be the only change that the Milwaukee Bucks make.

Jake Fischer of Yahoo! Sports reported in a column this week that the Bucks are looking to trade away veteran swingman Pat Connaughton in a deal that would fortify their defense. Fischer adds that Milwaukee is also trying to add guard Cameron Payne as part of the same package.

While Payne is only in his first season as a Buck, Connaughton’s history with the team runs far deeper. Connaughton has been in Milwaukee since 2018 and was an important bench cog on their 2021 NBA title team. He is one of six players still left from that team (along with Giannis and Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, Brook Lopez, and Bobby Portis).

But Connaughton has seen his role get diminished this season with Malik Beasley starting and younger wings like MarJon Beauchamp and Andre Jackson Jr. making cases for bigger roles off the bench. As a result, Connaughton is down to 5.4 points in 21.3 minutes per game.

Milwaukee’s package of Connaughton and Payne won’t be enough for them to land this desired trade target. But it could still help get a bigger forward type to improve on their bottom-10-ranked defense at the Feb. 8 deadline.