NBA Trade Window: 3 players that the Milwaukee Bucks should trade away

Modified Jan 11, 2019 15:01 GMT

The Milwaukee Bucks are currently enjoying a hugely impressive 2018/19 season. The team recently replaced the Toronto Raptors at the top of the Eastern Conference standings, which is a huge achievement, considering the form that the Raptors have shown with Kawhi Leonard leading the team.

The Bucks have also outperformed a number of the other preseason favourites in the East, such as the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers. In addition to this, the Milwaukee team has also made their home arena a fortress (19-4), and the Bucks have shown that they can compete with the best teams in the NBA.

Despite all the positive signs surrounding the franchise, there is always room for improvement, and the Bucks are likely to be active before the trade deadline. Nevertheless, the Bucks will need to lose some personnel in order to pull off a trade, and here we will look at three players that the Bucks should consider trading away.

#3 Ersan İlyasova

Ersan İlyasova is one of the most senior players on the Milwaukee Bucks roster, as the veteran has had spells in the NBA with teams such as the Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic, Oklahoma City Thunder, and the Atlanta Hawks. The Turkish star is also currently in his third spell with the Bucks, having previously played for the team between 2005-2007 and 2009-2015.

Ilyasova signed a three-year, $21 million dollar contract with the Bucks in the summer of 2018, but the power forward has yet to make a major impact since his return. Ilyasova is averaging a career low in minutes per game (19.3), and he is also averaging just 7.3 points per game.

While the veteran remains a hugely popular figure among Bucks fans, the $7 million a year that the organisation is paying him does not offer value for money, and if the right offer comes along, the Bucks should be open to trading away Ilyasova.

#2 Tony Snell

Tony Snell played three years of college basketball for the New Mexico Lobos before declaring himself for the NBA draft back in 2013. In the draft, Snell was selected with the 20th overall pick by the Chicago Bulls, and Snell went on to spend three years with the Bulls before joining the Bucks in 2016.

Snell had a successful first season in Milwaukee, averaging career highs in three-point percentage, points, and rebounds, and this resulted in the shooting guard being rewarded with a four-year, $44 million contract.

Despite this, Snell has seen a reduction in game time so far this season, and the 27-year-old has started just four games for the Bucks. With Milwaukee preferring other options at the guard position, the organisation should start looking to move his contract on, as Snell's salary is set to climb to nearly $12 million for the 19/20 season.

#1 Eric Bledsoe

Back in 2010, Eric Bledsoe was selected by the OKC Thunder with the 18th overall pick of the NBA draft. Bledsoe was subsequently traded to the Los Angeles Clippers, and the 29-year-old has also had a stint with the Phoenix Suns.

During his time in the NBA, Bledsoe has slowly developed into an excellent point guard, and during the 17/18 season, Bledsoe averaged 17.8 points, 5.1 assists and 4.4 rebounds per game.

Bledsoe has continued to post similar numbers during the current season, but his future remains in doubt as his $15 million deal will expire in the summer. This puts the Bucks in a difficult scenario, as the team is in a position to compete this season, although the franchise will not want to lose their point guard for nothing in return.

It would be a huge decision to trade away Bledsoe, but if the Bucks can get an adequate replacement, then it may be a deal worth making.