The Golden State Warriors front office had even more pressure put on them to put together a championship-level roster after the Olympics. Stephen Curry showed that he’s still one of the best players in the world, scoring a combined 60 points in the last two games of the Olympics. After finishing 10th in the Western Conference and losing in the Play-In Tournament, the Warriors only got better on the margins during the offseason. They lost Klay Thompson and added Buddy Hield, De’Anthony Melton, and Kyle Anderson. Those three players are all valuable professionals, but the Warriors lack star power.
Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report offered a trade to assist them get another All-Star player. Swartz arranged a three-team deal between the Warriors, Milwaukee Bucks, and Portland Trail Blazers.
Warriors would acquire: Khris Middleton.
Bucks would acquire: Jerami Grant.
Trail Blazers would get: Andrew Wiggins and Moses Moody.
“Khris Middleton is a better all-around player than Jerami Grant, but he’s also struggled to stay healthy in recent years and had arthroscopic surgeries on both ankles this offseason,” Swartz wrote on Wednesday, August 11. “If the Bucks are concerned about Middleton’s ability to stay on the court, trading him for Grant (who is also two years younger) makes sense…”
“The Warriors are essentially swapping Andrew Wiggins for Middleton here, as Moody may not even play much this upcoming season with the additions of Buddy Hield and De’Anthony Melton combined with Brandin Podziemski entering the starting lineup full-time.”
Why This Trade Doesn’t Make Sense for the Bucks
The Golden State Warriors would benefit from adding Middleton, but the Milwaukee Bucks have little motivation to deal him unless they get someone who is clearly a better player in return.
Despite the injury issues, Middleton is a three-time All-Star who can consistently put up 20-plus point seasons. Despite just playing 55 games this season, Middleton had an excellent playoff series while Giannis Antetokounmpo was sidelined with a left calf strain.
Middleton averaged 24.7 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 4.7 assists. He shot 48.2% from the field and 35.5% from three points.
If the Bucks were to trade Middleton for Grant, who has also had his fair share of ailments, it would be problematic. He’s played 218 games in the last four years, compared to Middleton’s 222.
Warriors Would Be Taking a Risk
Middleton’s game has positives, but injury concerns are warranted, especially for the Golden State Warriors, who may only have a few years left of contending with Curry at 36. Wiggins has had tough injury luck for parts of his career, but he’s managed to stay on the court for much of the past four years, appearing in at least 71 games in three of the last four seasons.
If the Warriors were to make this trade, there would be risk involved, but Middleton would be a positive addition as a player.
