Bucks acquire Bledsoe from Suns for Monroe, two draft picks
CLEVELAND - The Milwaukee Bucks made a major move Tuesday, sending center Greg Monroe, a firstround draft pick and a second-round pick to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for 6-foot-1 point guard Eric Bledsoe.
The trade was finalized and announced Tuesday afternoon before the Bucks’ game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena.
“I think this was the right deal because we were able to
add someone that’s dynamic, another dynamic player that can score the ball, that can play-make for others, that has defensive toughness, athleticism and strength,” general manager Jon Horst said.
“And we were able to do that with effectively giving up one of the pieces of our core, as we’ve talked about publicly. Also, the Bucks DNA thing we’ve talked about is real. He is a high-character guy, highly talented, he has positional versatility, he can play on the ball and off the ball and he’s got great toughness.”
According to league sources, the picks involved in the deal are both of Milwaukee’s 2018 selections, with the first-rounder holding “unique” protections. The second-round pick is protected between Nos. 31-47.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Suns would get the Bucks’ 2018 first-round pick if it falls between 11 and 16. This means the Bucks would keep their pick if they miss the playoffs and get a top-10 pick or if they make the playoffs and have one of the top 14 records in the NBA, which would slot them to pick between 17 and 30.
If Milwaukee keeps its pick in 2018, Phoenix will get it in 2019 if it falls between 4 and 16. In 2020, the Bucks’ pick is only top-7 protected. If the Bucks keep their pick in each of those three seasons, it would become unprotected in 2021.
Monroe, 27, has been out since Oct. 26 with a left calf strain. He is on an expiring contract making $17.9 million this season. Bledsoe has two years remaining on his deal, $14.5 million this season and $15 million next season.
After being away from the team during its recent road trip to Charlotte and Detroit, Monroe was on hand for shootaround in Cleveland on Tuesday morning. He left the session early, following Horst to a private room. Monroe returned to the floor as the team was wrapping up its practice.
Sitting on the sideline, Monroe shook hands with assistant coach Greg Foster and former Bucks all-star and Fox Sports Wisconsin analyst Vin Baker, but declined to comment when approached by the Journal Sentinel.
Khris Middleton, who has played with Monroe going back to their shared time in Detroit during the 2012’-13 season, called Monroe his brother as he discussed the bond they have shared.
“It’s always sad to see a teammate go,” Middleton said. “We’ll welcome Eric in with open arms if he can help us win ball games . ...
“(Monroe’s) a great teammate. I’ve got nothing bad to say about him. He knows how to play the game, he’s an unselfish player and wants to win. He’s also one of my close friends off the court, so it’s always sad to see your brother go.”
Monroe averaged 13.3 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 165 games since joining the Bucks as a splashy free-agent signing in 2015.
“It hopefully helps us. I think we’re excited, Eric’s excited,” Bucks coach Jason Kidd said. “On the other side of that coin is Moose did everything we asked him to help us win, from being a starter to being asked to go to the bench and help us have a stronger bench. He’s going to be missed.”
In a video posted on uninterrupted.com Tuesday, Bledsoe said, “I’m extremely excited to be a Milwaukee Buck.”
Bledsoe has averaged 18.8 points, 6.0 assists, 4.8 rebounds and 1.6 steals over 224 games since joining the Suns in 2013. Last season he averaged a career-high 21.1 points and 6.3 assists before being shut down for the final month with left knee soreness.
Bledsoe is not expected to join the Bucks until both he and Monroe pass physicals to fully complete the trade. Bledsoe could be with the Bucks as soon as Wednesday.