Suns add Bucks All-Star in mock Ayton deal

By Luke Duffy | Sep 27, 2023

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - FEBRUARY 26: Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns dribbles the ball against Jrue Holiday #21 of the Milwaukee Bucks in the first half at Fiserv Forum on February 26, 2023 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 Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) /

3 of 4

PORTLAND, OREGON – APRIL 02: Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers dribbles against Jrue Holiday of the Milwaukee Bucks. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /

Grade the Trade: Suns add Bucks All-Star in Ayton deal

For the Bucks, this is a harder sell that seems unlikely given that they’ve won a championship with Holiday, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton in the past. However, Middleton is now 32-years-old and has had his fair share of injuries, and Giannis may not stick around forever.

So if the Bucks want to show their franchise player that they’re willing to mix things up to stay at the top of the pile, they could do a lot worse than add Lillard. Paired with Antetokounmpo they could be frightening offensively, and have the depth to make them a tough out in the playoffs.

Ish Wainright is a throw-in here to balance the books, and he has more worth to the Suns than the Bucks. Still, he would be capable of being part of a second unit, and has the body type and defensive ability to hide some of the deficiencies that Lillard would bring with him on that end. Really though this feels like a sideways move that could go very wrong.

Grade: C

Home/Suns Rumors