The Bucks thought it was likely they would go ahead with the Bradley Beal trade for Jimmy Butler

As it is NBA trade deadline It’s getting closer, a few names hot in the rumor mill are the Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal and Miami Heat winger Jimmy Butlerwith Milwaukee Bucks mentioned as a team that could make a game for anyone. But if the Bucks jump into the mix, they are supposedly more inclined to trade for Bradley Beal than Jimmy Butler, according to longtime NBA insider Marc Stein.

Stein reports that there are hurdles the Bucks would have to clear before moving forward with a Jimmy Butler or Bradley Beal trade. The Bucks are currently the second team, meaning they would have to pay the salary first before taking on Beal or Butler’s current contract.

A name that has been mentioned as a possible move before the big trade is Pat Connaughton and his $9.4 million contract, in a deal that would not require the Bucks to take on additional salary.

As for a potential Butler deal, the Bucks almost certainly would have to move Khris Middleton in a tradea move the Bucks would reportedly be willing to make, according to ClutchPoint’s own NBA insider Brett Siegel.

Either Butler or Beal would likely help the Bucks move up the Eastern Conference standings. The Bucks have managed to shake off a bad start to the season and are playing better. The Bucks are currently 23-17 and have moved up to fourth place in the East standings.

While Butler has made it clear that he prefers to be traded away from the Heat, there is still no indication that Beal would seek a trade from the Suns. Butler recently returned from the team’s suspension doc Beal was benched in an attempt to reignite the struggling Suns.

Both players are still playing at a relatively high level. Butler averaged 17.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.2 steals while shooting 54.7 percent from the field, 35.3 percent from the three-point line and 79.4 percent from the field. from the free throw line.

Beal averaged 17.5 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.1 steals on 48.5 percent shooting from the field, 38.5 percent from the three-point line and 75 percent from the line. free throws.

David Iapkowitz is a basketball reporter for ClutchPoints, covering men’s and women’s NBA, WNBA and NCAA basketball news. The Los Angeles native has op-eds with Basketball Insiders, SB Nation and The Next Hoops.