Ranking Bucks' Top Trade Targets After 2024 NBA Playoff Loss

The Milwaukee Bucks were supposed to use the 2024 NBA postseason to reassert themselves as heavyweight title contenders.

Every move over the last 12 months—including acquiring Damian Lillard and replacing former coach Adrian Griffin with Doc Rivers—was made in pursuit of that goal. So, the fact the Bucks were instead bounced out of the opening round makes this season an unmitigated disaster. While injuries to Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo loom as possible excuses, this team hadn't looked great under Rivers even when it was healthy.

That's now back-to-back first-round exits for this franchise, which could pretty clearly use some kind of shake-up this summer. With assets at a minimum, though, it's much less obvious to figure out what kind of move Milwaukee should—or even can—make.

Nevertheless, we'll sift through the bin of potential bargains and identify which three players are worth targeting this offseason.

If the Bucks hope to rejoin the contender ranks, they have to fix their 19th-ranked defense, per NBA.com.

A defensive playmaker like Matisse Thybulle would up their stinginess and hopefully help spark enough open-court opportunities to offset his offensive limitations in the half-court.

Now, there's enough overlap between Thybulle and Bucks' up-and-comers Andre Jackson Jr. and MarJon Beauchamp to wonder whether Thybulle could crack any bigger of a role than they have. But perhaps the perimeter progress he's made over the past two seasons (1.0 threes per game at a 35.4 percent clip) could be enough to get him more floor time.

Milwaukee could obviously use his pesky defense and his energy. And since he's already past his 27th birthday, it shouldn't be impossible to pry him away from the rebuilding Trail Blazers.

In a perfect world, Milwaukee wouldn't have to sacrifice offense to improve its defense. Of course, with the Bucks' trade budget only stretching so far, their hopes of landing a two-way talent are pretty fleeting.

They might have enough for a strictly three-and-D wing, though. Someone who shape-shifts defensively and converts enough clean catch-and-shoot looks to keep defenses honest.

Someone like Dorian Finney-Smith, or at least the best version of him. His three-ball has lost some luster the past two seasons (34.3 percent), but if he rediscovers his touch (38.9 percent over the three seasons prior), he could be a really valuable role player who works his way into the late-game rotation.

He would probably cost just about everything the Bucks have to offer, and there's always some risk in busting open the piggy bank for a 30-plus non-star. Still, he checks some of the most important boxes for what you want from a support player alongside Antetokounmpo and Lillard.

It's entirely possible Alex Caruso's trade cost is simply more than Milwaukee can spend. Even if that's the case, though, the Bucks should make the pursuit and force the Chicago Bulls to make that call.

The defensive dynamo would be a big step toward fixing the many miscues this backcourt has encountered on the game's less glamorous end. Even better, Caruso can provide those stopping skills without mucking up the offense or blowing up the payroll. (His $9.9 million salary for next season is among the Association's best non-rookie values.)

He knows how to blend his skills in ways that he doesn't step on the toes of stars but does make a positive impact alongside them. His motor is always full-throttle. His three-ball has been as good as ever (career-high 136 triples on 40.8 percent shooting). His processing skills are sharp enough to serve as a secondary playmaker. He'll hustle his way into rebounds or transition points.

His glue-guy game could be just the binding agent the Bucks need, the only question is whether they can afford him. But if they're willing to empty their asset collection—and their deadline interest in Dejounte Murray suggests they might be—they can at least cobble together a trade package that makes Chicago think.