Is Zach LaVine the right partner for Giannis? Dollar trade rumors spark debate

The Milwaukee Bucks it started better than expected. Myles Turner was a big addition to the team in the offseasonand Ryan Rollins, AJ Green and Gary Trent Jr. were successful performers. Rollins, in particular, was one of the the most pleasant surprises of the NBA season. Ultimately, though, most of Milwaukee’s success could be attributed to the greatness of Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Double MVP is one of the best players in the leagueand it was exhibited this year. Most importantly, Antetokounmpo has taken several steps forward as a playmaker. He even improved his jump shot. So it makes sense that the Bucks have struggled without their star. Milwaukee has lost five straight games, with Antetokounmpo sidelined with a strained adductor.

Clearly, the Bucks need someone to step up when Antetokounmpo can’t play, and frankly, they need to bring in a counterpart to pair with their best player if they want to compete in the Eastern Conference this season. That’s why the Bucks were rumored to be interested in Zac Lavin. The Sacramento Kings the star was one of the main trade candidates this season, but does it make sense for the Bucks?

Would Zach LaVine be a good partner for Giannis Antetokounmpo?

On paper, LaVine fits well in lineups with Antetokounmpo. While the Greek Freak has improved as a shooter, he’s still far from a shooter, so it makes sense to surround him with 3-point shooters. Keeping Antetokounmpo from breaking down the defense is a near-impossible feat for opposing defenses, and he’s really improved his rebounding in open shooters. This is part of the reason why Rollins and Green have improved this year.

LaVine is a career 39.1% shooter from deep who has been able to launch and make deep balls at high volume. While another scorer in Milwaukee would be nice, what LaVine would really bring to the table is his ability to score off the bounce. The Bucks don’t have enough isolation ability on the roster outside of Antetokounmpo. LaVine would help with both spacing and taking some of the load off Antetokounmpo’s shoulders.

However, LaVine’s teams always disappointed no matter where he suited up. That would be a concern in Milwaukee as well because the roster is pretty mediocre. Damian Lillard, a fellow first-time guard who could knock down the three-ball, failed with the Bucks despite everyone assuming he would. pair perfectly with Antetokounmpo.

Furthermore, the Bucks may not have tradable assets or contracts yes realistically make the LaVine trade work. The Eastern Conference is wide open as teams are decimated by injuries, so if the Bucks want to go all in, now is the time. However, trading for LaVine and his massive contract may be easier said than done. He has also struggled with injuries on a regular basis, so he may not be the best alongside Antetokounmpo.