Despite recent improvements, the Milwaukee Bucks’ defense is still a problem because they rank 24th in the NBA in terms of points allowed per game (118.1) and 21st in terms of defensive rating (115.9). Nonetheless, the Bucks’ defensive issues might be resolved with a single trade.
Marcus Smart to the Milwaukee Bucks
Undoubtedly, the absence of Jrue Holiday and, to a lesser degree, Grayson Allen has negatively impacted the Bucks’ backcourt defense. In order to make up for this, Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report has a daring plan that would involve Marcus Smart of the Memphis Grizzlies, the former Defensive Player of the Year.
The decline of the Bucks in many defensive categories has been dramatic. The Bucks finished fourth in the NBA last season in terms of defensive rating, but they are currently in the bottom 10. Adding the tough Smart to the starting lineup would significantly improve the defensive rating and chances of the Bucks winning another NBA championship.
The addition of Smart, a seasoned point-of-attack defender who can also move onto bigger forwards, would assist in moving the Bucks back up the standings, according to Swartz.
incredibly powerful quintet
Given that Memphis has yet to see what its full roster would look like with all of the injuries its players have sustained this season, it is unclear whether such a scenario is even possible.
If it happens, though, Smart would join Giannis Antetokounmpo—another former Defensive Player of the Year—Break Lopez, Khris Middleton, and Damian Lillard in a starting lineup that could cause a ton of damage on both ends.
“Lillard, Smart, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Brook Lopez, and Khris Middleton would be a very effective starting five on both ends, and there would still be Jae Crowder, Malik Beasley, Cameron Payne, and Andre Jackson Jr. on the bench,” Swartz continued.
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