NBA Trade Rumors: Thon Maker Requests to Be Dealt by Bucks, Eyes Bigger Role

NBA Trade Rumors: Thon Maker Requests to Be Dealt by Bucks, Eyes Bigger Role

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MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JANUARY 07: Thon Maker #7 of the Milwaukee Bucks celebrates after coming out of the game against the Utah Jazz at Fiserv Forum on January 07, 2019 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
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After seeing a reduced role in his third year in the NBA, Milwaukee Bucks center Thon Maker has reportedly requested a trade, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

Maker wants to play for a team that "would provide a larger role for the former lottery pick."

The 21-year-old is averaging 4.7 points and 2.7 rebounds per game this season while averaging just 11.7 minutes per contest.

He started 46 games over his first two campaigns and averaged 16.7 minutes per game last season, but he has exclusively come off the bench in 35 appearances this year.

Maker has only played 31 total minutes over the team's last eight games and did not play in three of them.

From the player's perspective, a trade would make sense if it allows him to showcase his skill set and potentially land a larger contract. He is eligible for a rookie extension this summer and would be a free agent in 2020 without a new deal.

With averages of 12.2 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per 36 minutes in his career, the 7'1" center has shown he can be an impact player when given the opportunity.

On the other hand, the Bucks are title contenders this season and enter Saturday with the best record in the NBA at 35-12. Even with veterans Brook Lopez and Ersan Ilyasova on the roster, it wouldn't make sense for Milwaukee to make a trade that would weaken the rotation.

The best-case scenario would be to use Maker as a centerpiece in a deal that would bring back an impact player.

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I proposed a possible Yabusele and our own first next year for Maker in the trade rumors thread.

the salarys would work and Milwaukee gets a late first next year for their effort.

we get a legit seven footer who is under contract cheap next year.

not sure Maker mover the needle much to be honest, but he is still very young and like I said has size we simply do not have.

kdp59 wrote:I proposed a possible Yabusele and our own first next year for Maker in the trade rumors thread.

the salarys would work and Milwaukee gets a  late first  next year for their effort.

we get a legit seven footer who is under contract cheap next year.

not sure Maker mover the needle much to be honest, but he is still very young and like I said has size we simply do not have.

kdp59

I think that is a good proposal but I do not think Danny would make that trade now.  

Danny is not going to take any practice shots.  He will keep his gun fully loaded.  Danny wants to be a player in the event that AD becomes available.  NOLA cannot trade for another elite talent.  They cannot add enough talent around AD to alter the situation.  NOLA will be out of the playoffs this year after getting into the 2nd round last year.

AD has likely grown tired of losing.  NOLA will offer him an extension.  At that point Davis can do several things.  Accept the extension and declare he will stay, decline the extension and be unable to make a commitment leaving NOLA blowing in the wind or decline the extension and ask to be traded.  

This is no fantasy and Danny knows that.  Everything is set up for Danny to make a deal.  The Lakers are players in name only.  They do not have a package that could match the Celtics and NOLA is in the West.  Philly has been mentioned as a possibility but Simmons would be the anchor for that move and I really do not think that Embid and Davis are a good pairing.

So Boston will hold off on using a valuable draft pick at this time.

Maker is OK, but not the type of player worth making a big move over. He can board, which Boston needs, but given the same minutes, I'm sure Williams can do as well if not better.

Maker is good enough to be in the league for a while, but I don't think his game warrants the kind of money he's probably thinking about.