The Los Angeles Lakers may have landed Oklahoma City Thunder guard Dennis Schroder, but there was apparently a second contender interested in his services.
The Milwaukee Bucks had engaged in trade talks with the Thunder and were “deep in negotiations last week,” according to the Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor.
He added that guard Eric Bledsoe has been involved more than other Bucks players in trade talks. Bledsoe is a very good defensive guard and has averaged more than 16 points per game since arriving in Milwaukee, but his playoff struggles have been well-noted.
If Bledsoe was part of the discussion for Schroder, it’s easy to see why both sides may hesitate.
Sources: The Bucks pursued a trade with the Thunder for Dennis Schroder and were deep in trade negotiations last week. Ultimately, the Lakers landed Schroder. Now the Bucks must move on to other targets. Eric Bledsoe remains the player Milwaukee is dangling most in trade talks.
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) November 15, 2020
While Bledsoe is a good player, he is owed more than $54 million total over the next three years. Oklahoma City is trying to decrease its payroll and there are reports it doesn’t want to add players for multiple years. The team might need a draft pick to sweeten the deal.
The Bucks may understandably not want to include a pick if they were to trade Bledsoe for one year of Schroder.
In the end, the two sides couldn’t make a trade. Schroder, assuming the deal goes through and is agreed upon when the moratorium is lifted Monday, is headed to the Lakers in exchange for a package that includes the No. 28 pick in the 2020 NBA draft and Danny Green.
The Bucks will move on to other targets.
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