The Milwaukee Bucks reportedly are interested in making a trade for Sacramento Kings rookie Nik Stauskas. Bucks center Larry Sanders's return to the team, meanwhile, is uncertain despite his drug-related suspension reportedly being over.
Milwaukee could be a buyer before the Feb. 19 trade deadline passes. Gery Woelfel of the Racine Journal Times reported the Bucks were interested in trading for Stauskas, the No. 8 pick of the 2014 draft.
"Bucks still being linked in trade rumors for Kings rookie guard Nik Stauskas," Woelfel tweeted Wednesday.
Stauskas is only averaging 3.4 points in around 13 minutes per game, but the shooting specialist has upside and his rookie-scale contract wouldn't be a strain on Milwaukee's future cap space.
More importantly for the Bucks, Stauskas can likely be had. Sacramento is in "win-now mode," as evidenced in part by their firing of coach Michael Malone in December and subsequent midseason switch to George Karl, who's expected to make his debut on Feb. 20. CBS Sports' Ken Berger reported in January the Kings were willing to move Stauskas if it netted them an upgrade in the frontcourt.
Per Berger:
"Determined to find an upgrade to complement inside force DeMarcus Cousins, the Sacramento Kings are seeking frontcourt help in a trade and are willing to discuss first-round pick Nik Stauskas in the deal, league sources told CBSSports.com.
"The Kings want to pair Cousins with a frontline player who would fit with his post-up skills -- either a stretch four or above-the-rim defender, sources said. They've fielded numerous calls about Stauskas, whose opportunities have been limited with the steadily improving play of Ben McLemore. Sacramento thus far has rebuffed teams inquiring about Stauskas, the sharpshooter from Michigan whom they selected with the eighth overall pick in the draft. But the Kings' motivation to put a 'high-level' player next to Cousins on the front line has heightened, making them finally willing to include Stauskas in trade talks."
It's uncertain how much - or who - Milwaukee would be willing to give up for Stauskas. It's also possible a third-team gets involved to make a deal happen.
If a third team becomes involved, it's possible Sanders's name will get attached. He's not a fit for Sacramento, but a team willing to look past his off-the-court issues - and his hefty contract - could see the 26-year-old as worth the gamble.
Regardless of whether he is traded, Sanders's future in Milwaukee appears bleak. Fox Sports reported his 12-game suspension ended after Wednesday's win against Sacramento and the Bucks would talk over the All-Star break about whether to reactivate him.
