The Milwaukee Bucks, fresh off their NBA Cup victory, are facing a critical decision regarding their roster and finances. With the NBA’s new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) imposing stricter rules, the Bucks find themselves $6.5 million over the second apron. This financial threshold could restrict their ability to build a championship-winning team. To circumvent this issue, Jon Horst’s Bucks are actively seeking a trade partner to offload Pat Connaughton’s contract in a salary dump trade. The goal: get under the second apron and restore flexibility for future transactions.
According to Evan Sidery of Forbes, “The Bucks are actively attempting to find a team willing to take on Pat Connaughton’s contract in a salary dump trade to get under the second apron.” This move is part of a broader effort to avoid facing severe financial restrictions associated with exceeding the second apron limit. Teams that exceed this salary threshold lose access to tools like the mid-level exception, and they cannot aggregate contracts in trades or take on more salary than they send out.
For the Milwaukee Bucks, Pat Connaughton’s contract is the key piece in this puzzle. Currently, Connaughton’s salary stands at $9.4 million for both this season and the next. By moving him off the roster, the Bucks would create enough space to dip below the $189.3 million second apron, thus unlocking critical trade flexibility. This would allow them to combine contracts in future trades, potentially leading to a bigger deal involving multiple players or assets in exchange for a star player they deem necessary for a deep playoff run.
Pat Connaughton, now in his seventh season with the Bucks, was part of the team that won the NBA Championship in 2021. However, his performance this season has been inconsistent. In 18 games, Connaughton has averaged 4.5 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.6 assists while struggling to stay healthy. His reduced playing time and production have made him a candidate for a trade as the Bucks look to balance their roster and avoid financial pitfalls.
While Pat Connaughton’s trade could help Jon Hurst’s Milwaukee Buck’s financial standing, it also reflects a broader strategy to stay competitive within the changing landscape of the NBA’s salary rules. “This could lead to a bigger deal down the line involving multiple players, and possibly even assets, in exchange for a star player or someone that Milwaukee deems worth the deal,” Sidery added.
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Despite the financial hurdles, the Bucks are still considered one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference. However, they’ve had their struggles since winning the NBA Cup. With a 5-5 record in their last 10 games, they are looking to find consistency and push for a higher playoff position. The team currently holds the 13th-best offensive and 9th-best defensive ratings in the league but will need to improve if they hope to secure home-court advantage in the postseason.
