When the Milwaukee Bucks entered this season, most people argued their most bloated asset was the glut of centers clinging to the backend of their roster. Conversely, their most deficient asset was flexibility, having tied themselves down to a number of questionable long-term contracts that could keep the team near the luxury tax once Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jabari Parker’s presumed long-term extensions kicked in. The latter of those now remains an open question, but the fact remains this team was on its way to locking into a roster with a firmly entrenched ceiling.
Milwaukee’s low-key but highly successful trade deadline sought to rectify both of those problems at once.