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<\/p>\nAfter making the trip to Las Vegas for the NBA Cup semifinals the previous two seasons, the Milwaukee Bucks are one of the 28 teams watching the action in Sin City from home. While they would have loved to return to the tournament, few teams around the league needed the opportunity to catch their breath and take a break more than the Bucks.<\/p>\n
With superstar forward Giannis Antetokounmpo sidelined with a right calf strain, Milwaukee pulled off a surprise win at home over the Boston Celtics on Thursday. Unfortunately, the good vibes from that win were invalidated after suffering one of the largest losses in franchise history (127-82) at the hands of the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday. The Bucks, now 11-16 on the season, have not won two games in a row since October and are barely holding on to the final Play-In Tournament spot in the Eastern Conference.<\/p>\n
With Antetokounmpo, it\u2019s not just the injuries. Trade rumors that typically only bubble up in the offseason have now made their way into the regular season, as Antetokounmpo and the Bucks as a whole have been displeased with the team\u2019s early-season results. That displeasure takes on even greater importance as Dec. 15 marks the league\u2019s unofficial start to trade season. A large majority of the players who signed contracts over the offseason become trade-eligible.<\/p>\n
But while the outside noise may have fans of opposing teams drooling about the potential of adding Milwaukee\u2019s two-time NBA MVP to their roster, league sources told The Athletic the Bucks have told teams they are looking to add to their roster in hopes of fortifying their struggling team in the week leading up to Dec. 15. That messaging could certainly change as the Feb. 5 trade deadline nears.<\/p>\n
Five months after the Bucks\u2019 stunning decision to waive Damian Lillard en route to adding big man Myles Turner on a four-year, $107 million deal, it appears they aren\u2019t waving the white flag on Antetokounmpo\u2019s future in Milwaukee just yet. Instead, league sources said they\u2019re considering making yet another significant addition that might aid their chances of convincing him to stay.<\/p>\n
As this latest inexplicable loss showed yet again, there is no doubt that Milwaukee\u2019s roster could use some serious help.<\/p>\n
The Bucks have a group of younger, 20-something guards \u2014 Kevin Porter Jr., Ryan Rollins, AJ Green and Gary Trent Jr. \u2014 who have been regulars in Doc Rivers\u2019 rotation. But all of them are 6-foot-5 or shorter. Green, one of the NBA\u2019s best 3-point shooters, has missed the last three games with a left AC joint sprain. Milwaukee also has four bigs \u2014 Antetokounmpo, Turner, Kyle Kuzma and Bobby Portis \u2014 who have contributed all season long.<\/p>\n
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\n Kyle Kuzma (18) and Kevin Porter Jr. have been two of the Milwaukee Bucks\u2019 top contributors, but will a Bucks team wanting better results in the win column make a move during trade season? (John Fisher \/ Getty Images)<\/p>\n
With Taurean Prince\u2019s neck injury and subsequent surgery, however, the Bucks essentially have no wings who have earned Rivers\u2019 trust. This has led to Rivers needing to use mismatched lineups, either featuring three guards or three bigs, to get through games.<\/p>\n