Rumour: The Milwaukee Bucks Could Land Kyle Lowry In A Three-Team Deal With The Toronto Raptors And Orlando Magic. Is This A More Attainable Option Than Trading For Chris Paul?

According to an article on Bleacher Report written by Grant Hughes, the Milwaukee Bucks have an opportunity to offer a trade that consists of All-Star point guard Kyle Lowry. The idea of a trio of Khris Middleton, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kyle Lowry could be the last piece to Milwaukee’s puzzle as they would finally attain a playmaking clutch leader to close out games. In the playoffs this season, Milwaukee proved that this team lacks a vocal leader who can facilitate the basketball. Even though Giannis Antetokounmpo did reveal that he would want to play alongside Chris Paul, trading for Kyle Lowry is much more attainable. However, what is the rumoured trade that would make Toronto even consider a trade for their franchise player? 

Toronto Raptors get: Eric Bledsoe, Ersan Ilyasova and a 2023 first-round pick (via Milwaukee Bucks), the No. 15 pick in the 2020 draft (via Orlando Magic) and Khem Birch.

Milwaukee Bucks get: Kyle Lowry.

Orlando Magic get: Donte DiVincenzo and the No. 24 pick in the 2020 draft (via Milwaukee Bucks)

The Toronto Raptors have had some great talent throughout their tenure in the NBA, but Kyle Lowry is arguably the greatest Raptor! From his contributions in Toronto’s historic run in the 2019 NBA playoffs to his multiple appearances in the NBA All-Star game, Lowry has become a box office name in the Eastern Conference while being regarded as one of the most intelligent players in the modern-day! His production this season in the playoffs against the Boston Celtics proved that he is the best player in Toronto and the sole reason why they were able to push a game seven, to begin with. OG Anunoby may have nailed that incredible three-pointer at the end of game five, but Lowry was the person that saw the play and launched the basketball over a CN Tower! The Milwaukee Bucks could benefit in trading for Kyle Lowry as he has proven repeatedly that he is a vocal leader who only boosts his teammates when it matters the most! This season in the NBA playoffs, the Milwaukee Bucks lacked that aspect of their team hence why the Miami Heat almost swept them if not for Middleton’s three-pointer at the end of game four. Kyle Lowry would be a vocal point guard that would facilitate Mike Budenholzer’s instructions on the offensive end while also bringing a new culture into the locker room. If the Milwaukee Bucks have to sacrifice Donte DiVencenzo and Eric Bledsoe to attain an All-Star and a future Hall of Famer, this could be one of the biggest steals in recent history! 

In terms of Toronto, the Raptors would enter a new era in their franchise of building around Pascal Siakam and, potentially, Fred VanVleet if he resigns this off-season. With the Raptors virtually losing most of their roster in just two seasons, trading away players like Kyle Lowry could add value to their future. In this specific simulation, the Raptors would receive Eric Bledsoe, a solid point guard, and two first-round draft picks that Toronto will utilize. When examining their drafting history over the last six seasons, the Raptors have managed to attain Pascal Siakam, Norman Powell, and OG Anunoby, who were not lottery picks while also signing undrafted players in Fred VanVleet and Terrence Davis! Toronto has been exceptional in drafting players over the years as they can draft a future All-Star! The Raptors would have an incredible amount of cap-space while embarking on a rebuild circulating Pascal Siakam! 

Lastly, the Orlando Magic are only interested in this trade due to attaining the young, talented guard in Donte DiVincenzo. In the 2019-20 NBA season, the Milwaukee Bucks lost critical role players in Malcolm Brogdan and Nikola Mirotic and replaced them with Donte DiVincenzo and Wesley Mathews. While Mathews was more than mediocre this season, Donte displayed elite shooting and playmaking while easily becoming the most improved player on the Bucks roster. His ability to get open for a shot while playing above-average defence gave Milwaukee more air to breathe than feeling constrained when entering this season. Unfortunately, Donte’s contribution was not enough to eliminate the Heat, making Milwaukee a very vulnerable team when entering this off-season! To keep their young Star, the Bucks need to submit to anything Giannis requests, and if that means that Donte DiVencenzo has to be a trade piece to attain Kyle Lowry, then it is a small cost. 

Kyle Lowry has proven himself in the NBA as he is a brute force that displays a whole new level of mentality. However, Giannis Antetokounmpo reportedly stated that Chris Paul is the player he wants to play alongside next season. Both point guards are exceptionally talented and would elevate Milwaukee; however, only one of them is a realistic option which is Kyle Lowry. While OKC might have more to offer with draft picks and potentially another player, the contract of Chris Paul not only limits a franchise to trade for him but also limits Paul in joining a contending organization like Milwaukee. The other advantage in trading for Kyle Lowry over Chris Paul is that if the Lowry project fails, his contract expires while Chris Paul, an ageing guard, still has a player option left in his contract, which he will most definitely accept! The Milwaukee Bucks, if given the opportunity, should consider targeting Kyle Lowry over Chris Paul as he is a low-risk high reward type of situation. In addition, the idea of trading away Eric Bledsoe to a different organization will please most of the Milwaukee Bucks fan base. Lowry and Paul are viable options but, could Milwaukee benefit more if they signed a lower end point guard with clutch tendencies like Goran Dragic?