Are The Milwaukee Bucks Interested In Trading For Anthony Davis?

MILWAUKEE, WI -- Anthony Davis, the NBA All-Star center currently shipwrecked on the New Orleans Pelicans roster has demanded a trade - and word is that the Milwaukee Bucks have entered the fray to potentially acquire the 25-year-old Chicago native.

According to multiple reports, including the speculative musings of NBA reporter Gery Woelfel, the Milwaukee Bucks are indeed interested.

Davis would immediately give the Bucks more punch in their lineup, as he is averaging 29.3 points, 13.3 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game - all while shooting 50.8 percent from the field, including 32.5 percent from three-point land.

Yet when you consider that the Bucks enjoy the NBA's best record at 35-13, have superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo and a cast of good players on their roster, it might make you wonder why they'd give up players like:

Eric Bledsoe, the team's starting point guard whose forays to the basket get the team 15.7 points per game while opening the floor for the rest of his teammates.

Khris Middleton, the six-foot-eight-inch forward who's shooting 37 percent from three-point land.

Brook Lopez, the player nicknamed Splash Mountain who's shooting better from three than Middleton while also providing desperately-needed defense from the center position.

Malcom Brogdon, one of the team's most efficient players, and one of the few players shooting greater than 50 percent from the field, 40 percent from three and 90 percent from the line.

Fansided says the Bucks need Davis because championship teams need multiple star players:

The Bucks could still win a title with one star, the route Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks took to the championship in 2011. But the long record of title winners over the past 30 years is that to consistently contend for a championship you need not one, but two (or four) stars.

The Money:

Davis is currently signed through the 2020-21 season: he will earn $25.4 million this season, $27 million next season and has the right to exercise a $28 million player option in 2020-21.

For any trade to work out, the Bucks and Pelicans would have to match salary figures to a degree. According to league rules, if a team is over the yearly league salary cap, they cannot take on more than 125 percent more salary than they are trading away. The Bucks currently sit at a $118.8 million payroll this season. The 2018-19 NBA salary cap is $101.8 million.

The Players

The folks at Heavy.com went off the deep end when it comes to trade scenarios involving New Orleans and Milwaukee.

In their report, they speculated Milwaukee trading various combinations of Khris Middleton, Brook Lopez, Thon Maker, Malcom Brogdon, Pat Connaughton, Christian Wood or Eric Bledsoe for Davis in addition to future draft picks.

If you're a Bucks fan, rest assured that no formal offer has been presented to New Orleans. According to The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor, "virtually every team will toss the idea of putting a trade offer on the table, but Milwaukee’s offer could be one to monitor."

Buckle up, Milwaukee.

Anthony Davis #23 of the New Orleans Pelicans fights for the ball with Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks at Smoothie King Center on December 13, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. 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 Chris Graythen/Getty Images)