It’s getting down to the wire of the NBA offseason, and last-minute moves are being made.
The Milwaukee Bucks currently have 17 players on the roster with a 15-man limit. To get out of this, they could simply waive Caris LeVert and follow up with Pete Nance on a two-way deal.
That’s the likely scenario, but the Bucks still have time to make a move or two before training camp. Here are two deals that could help balance the Bucks’ roster.
Of course, these proposals are hypothetical and not based on any reported discussions between the teams involved.
Trade 1 — The Bucks Clear Their Guard Logjam in a Three-Team Deal
Bucks receive: Terance Mann, Tristan Da Silva, two 2RP
Magic receive: A.J. Green, Jericho Sims
Nets receive: Kyle Kuzma, Anthony Black
Green being shipped out in this deal opens guard minutes for first-round pick Brayden Burries. The Bucks deal expiring contracts of Kuzma and Sims as well. Milwaukee takes on the remaining contract of Terance Mann and receives draft collateral for it. Mann is going into the second year of a 3-year, $47 million contract with 2 years, $31 million remaining on the deal.
The Bucks will also get a young player in Tristan Da Silva. Da Silva was a first-round pick of the Magic in 2024, but has seemingly fallen out of favor there. Last season Da Silva averaged 9.9 points per game on 45% shooting, including 37.4% from 3 in less than 25 minutes per game.
At just 25 years old, Da Silva would give the Bucks a chance to look at him for a couple of years to determine if he fits the long-term plans.
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For Orlando, the deal makes sense as a way to recoup a rotational wing in Green and a backup center in Sims while parting with Black and Da Silva, who are both stuck behind a talented Magic starting lineup. Brooklyn receives an expiring contract in Kuzma that clears their books after this season, along with a young piece in Black to develop.
Trade 2 — Milwaukee Acquires Gafford and Stockpiles Picks
Bucks receive: Daniel Gafford, draft capital
Lakers receive: P.J. Washington, AJ Johnson
Mavericks receive: Kevin Porter Jr., Jarred Vanderbilt
New Orleans Pelicans receive: Caris LeVert, Dalton Knecht
It should be acquiring assets and draft picks for the Bucks at this point.
With superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo getting dealt to the Miami Heat, the Bucks are unlikely to be contending in the East, at least in the near future. To collect draft picks, the Bucks can move off their expiring contracts of Kuzma and LeVert by taking on worse contracts with more years on them (Gafford and Mann).
Gafford starts his three-year extension he signed in 2025 this year with 3 years and $54.3 million remaining on the deal. He is signed through the 2029 season. Gafford is a valuable player and a lob threat offensively and a solid shot blocker, too. While his scoring took a bit of a dip last year, Gafford would be a solid 20-minute-a-night big.
The Lakers land P.J. Washington, a versatile power forward who fits their timeline, along with the young upside of AJ Johnson. Dallas gets Porter Jr. as a reclamation project and Vanderbilt’s defensive toughness to shore up their frontcourt. And New Orleans acquires LeVert as a veteran ball-handler for their second unit and Knecht as a young shooter to develop alongside their core.
The Roster After Both Deals Looks Balanced
After the trades, the Bucks would have their guard logjam issues resolved and a nice balance of wings and bigs. The trades would free up a guaranteed roster spot for Pete Nance, too. Milwaukee’s roster would look like this:
Guards: Ryan Rollins, Tyler Herro, Gary Trent Jr., Kasparas Jakučionis, Brayden Burries
Wings: Ousmane Dieng, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Cormac Ryan, Tristan Da Silva, Terance Mann, Nate Ament
Bigs: Myles Turner, Kel’el Ware, Daniel Gafford, Pete Nance
Milwaukee’s Priority Is Picks, Not Wins
While multiple trades at this stage of the offseason are unlikely, the Bucks could balance their squad with these two deals.
Milwaukee isn’t expected to be contenders for a bit. They should be trying to collect picks and take on a bad contract or two to do it. Currently, the Bucks have just one pick combined over the next two years.
Perhaps a late offseason trade or two can help the Bucks solve the glut of guards issue and collect some picks, as the Bucks are betting on their 2026 first-round picks – Burries and Ament – being a big part of the present and future.
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