Milwaukee Bucks shouldn’t trade 2019 first round pick

The Milwaukee Bucks are rumored to be shopping their first-round selection in the 2019 NBA Draft. Here’s why they should keep it.

It’s made sense for a while and many analysts around the Milwaukee Bucks thought they might do it. As we’re getting closer to the 2019 NBA Draft on Thursday night, the idea is picking up steam as well. Marc Stein reported the Bucks are willing to trade “draft compensation” in order to offload the contracts of Tony Snell or Ersan Ilyasova.

The wording is sort of unique here. “Draft compensation.” That basically means Milwaukee’s 30th overall pick, as they don’t really have much else to choose from. They don’t own a second round pick this season. They owe their first-round selection to the Phoenix Suns next year thanks to the Eric Bledsoe deal. Oh, and they don’t have their 2020 pick as well. Just about the only picks they have in the next four years (including this year) is the no. 30 overall pick in 2019, their 2021 first rounder and their 2022 second rounder.

With all of that being said, the Bucks hope the 30th pick is enough to get out from under a contract like Snells or Ilyasova’s.

Snell is the harder player of the two to move. For starters, he basically has two years remaining on his deal. He does have a player option in 2020-21 that’s included in that two years, but there’s no way he’s going to turn down $12.2 million that season.

Ilyasova is only owed $7 million next year compared to Snell’s $11.4. He’s also under contract for 2020-21 for another $7 million, but it’s only partially guaranteed. That alone makes him the easier player to trade.

The Bucks are projected to flirt with the salary cap line this offseason. They are tasked with attempting to re-sign Malcolm Brogdon, Khris Middleton, Brook Lopez, Nikola Mirtoic and likely George Hill. That’s a lot. And it will cost a lot.

The biggest advantage of trading Snell or Ilyasova is that it will save ownership money over the tax. However, a move could also open up cap space to ensure they don’t lose Lopez. As it stands, they’ll only be able to use the taxpayers mid-level exception on the seven-footer; an issue that could prevent them from bringing back one of their most important players from a season ago.

However, Milwaukee’s front office should avoid trading their 30th pick in this year’s draft.

When a team is projected to be above the salary cap for years to come, such as the Bucks, they need to find cheap and efficient ways to fill the rest of their roster. That’s where the draft pick comes in. They have a chance to acquire a contributor on a team-friendly deal for four seasons. They can’t find that in free agency.

Snell and Ilyasova are also useful players. Snell played in 74 games before missing the last eight games of the season due to injury. this made it difficult for him to come back in the postseason where he found himself outside of the rotation following his recovery.

Ilyasova is also a main cog in the frontcourt. Without him, Milwaukee only has Giannis Antetokounmpo and D.J. Wilson as players capable of playing the 4 and 5. They’d certainly have to bring in another NBA level player.

Overall, the Bucks have a deep and talented roster and have the opportunity to bring back who they choose next season. The only question marks will be Lopez and George Hill. If everything falls correctly, the Bucks could be looking at a deep and loaded roster once again.