Milwaukee Bucks trade deadline tracker 2025: Rumors, news, dates to know

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Milwaukee Bucks trade deadline tracker 2025: Rumors, news, dates to know

Jim Owczarski, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel · Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Tue, Feb 4, 2025 ·

10 min read

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This story is routinely updated with new information.

The Milwaukee Bucks began the season 2-8 and have since climbed above .500, and their best chance at truly contending for an NBA title remains with the core group currently on the roster. And the team faces a bevy of restrictions due to operating in the second apron of the league salary cap.

But, general manager Jon Horst hasn't been afraid to make some tweaks in season. A month before the trade deadline, we take a look at what the Bucks can and cannot do , track rumors and league trades.

When is the NBA trade deadline 2025?

Feb. 6 at 2 p.m. CT.

Milwaukee Bucks general manager Jon Horst has not been shy about making in-season moves to try and improve the roster.

Bucks contract key dates

Jan. 10: Andre Jackson Jr.'s 2024-25 salary ($1.89M) became fully guaranteed.

What trade restrictions do the Bucks have?

Being a second apron team means the Bucks cannot take on any more salary than they send out – so the player salaries must match down to the dollar – and they cannot aggregate salaries outright (i.e. trade two players for one) …

However…

There is an avenue the Bucks can exploit, but it would create yet another restriction: They can aggregate salaries if it results in the team falling under the second apron.

This would trigger the second apron as a hard cap, meaning the Bucks could not exceed it like they currently have.

So what does that mean?

The Bucks are roughly $6.5 million over the second apron.

Let's say the Bucks combine two salaries for $22 million – it could only net the Bucks a single player making roughly $15.5 million or less.

But the reality is they would have to take a player making less than that because the Bucks would have just 14 players on guaranteed deals – so they would need money available to either convert Ryan Rollins to a guaranteed deal or sign a free agent to a minimum to bolster their depth.

Can the Bucks make a three-team trade to get under the apron?

Yes. The Bucks can simultaneously move multiple players to multiple teams and get under the second apron. They could trade one player to Team A to get under the second apron, and also trade two players to Team B, all in one transaction.

More: The Bucks are in win-now mode, but financial flexibility around Giannis and Lillard is coming

Who can the Bucks trade for?

As it stands, the Bucks will likely only send out one player for one player, and the contacts must match. Or, of course, they could try to shed a single player for one making less money.

So, the available list of players to trade for wholly depends on who they would send out.

You can see the list of player salaries for this season here .

Now, in the unlikely scenario that the Bucks swing a trade that hard-caps them at the second apron, it's important to know that $15.5 million (or less) is not a lot of money. For example, the 110thhighest-paid player in the league is Dallas ' P.J. Washington at $15.5 million.

Could shuffling a couple of bench players be worth being hard-capped and give the Bucks an over-the-top edge in competing for a title this season? Perhaps, but it feels unlikely.

Could trading one of their high-paid "core four" pieces to get under the second apron, and then aggregating a couple of bench salaries for a single player create a more dynamic team that can unseat Boston and Cleveland in the East?

That sounds like more than a stretch, particularly since one could say the Bucks' current issues stem from the fact they've lacked continuity for the better part of a calendar year under Doc Rivers.

What teams can the Bucks trade with?

It always takes two to tango, but under these scenarios any trade might require three or more teams – which makes such deals that much trickier to navigate. It is also important to note that only Detroit has available cap space to absorb money – but a team (or teams) are going to have to send the Pistons draft picks to use that space as a waystation.

What's more, of the 28 other teams the Bucks could trade with, 12 have no open cap room (and many of them are not willing luxury-tax payers), 12 are hard-capped at the first apron and four are hard-capped at the second apron.

That means nearly every team in the league would have a lot of work to do to make any deal fit their respective constraints.

So while the Bucks have their limitations, they may yet be aided by other team's constraints also i.e. swapping one veteran for another without draft pick "sweeteners" in the hope a change of scenery is what each player needs.

Do the Bucks have draft picks to trade?

Yes, but they will be dipping into the 2031 draft.

The Bucks do not control any of their first-round picks through 2030, as New Orleans and Portland own swap rights due to the Jrue Holiday and Damian Lillard trades . Technically, the Bucks can offer swaps on those swaps, but the value in such a scenario is not very high.

Milwaukee also does not currently possess a second-round draft pick until 2031.

What deadline moves has Jon Horst made?

The Bucks have acquired the following players since Horst took over in 2017:

Tyler Zeller (February 2017)*
George Hill (December 2018)
Nikola Mirotić (February 2019)
P.J. Tucker (March 2021)
Jevon Carter , DeAndre' Bembry and Serge Ibaka (February 2022)
Jae Crowder (February, 2023)
Patrick Beverley and Danilo Gallinari (February, 2024)

*Eric Bledsoe was acquired just over a week into the 2017 regular season.

Milwaukee Bucks trade rumors

The Bucks are a team that will always be linked to certain players (i.e. veterans seeking a title), but we'll keep an eye on all the burning trade embers here as they flicker.

Bucks looking to trade Pat Connaughton

According to HoopsHype, a USA TODAY NETWORK property, and NBA reporter Marc Stein , the Bucks have actively engaged in discussions to trade wing Pat Connaughton. The 32-year-old has fallen out of head coach Doc Rivers' rotation , and makes not just $9.4 million this year but will most likely pick up his $9.4 million player option for next year. Should they be able to move Connaughton, the Bucks can slide under the second apron and open up more flexibility before the deadline to trade multiple players for a single player.

Bucks have interest in Jericho Sims

The Journal Sentinel confirmed the Bucks have interest in New York Knicks big man Jericho Sims, who is under contract for $2 million for only this season. The 6-foot, 10-inch 26-year-old averages about 11 minutes off the bench for New York. He does not shoot three-pointers, but is an explosive athlete -- he had a 44.5-inch vertical jump at the 2021 NBA combine. At the time it was the third-highest leap in combine history.

Bucks interested in Cody Martin

HoopsHype, part of the USA TODAY NETWORK , reported the Bucks have expressed interest in 29-year-old forward Cody Martin of the Charlotte Hornets . Martin is 6 feet, 5 inches and is in his sixth season in Charlotte. A career 31% three-point shooter, Martin would inject a little bit of youth and wing defense into the Bucks. His $8.6 million contact for next season is not guaranteed until June 30.

Bucks engaged with Bulls on Zach LaVine trade

Milwaukee did have conversations with Chicago about a deal that would have brought Zach LaVine to Milwaukee. The Journal Sentinel confirmed the Chicago Sports Network's repor t. Other players would have been involved, too, in some fashion, to make the money work considering the Bucks' apron restrictions.

Can the Bucks sign a buyout player?

Yes. There is a restriction, however – if a roster spot opens, the team can only sign a player who made less than $12.8 million before being bought out.

Can the Bucks buy out one of their own players?

Yes. If the team cannot find any trades that opens a roster spot, they can buy out one of their own players and sign a free agent minimum. The only restriction in this scenario would be the heavier tax bill to consider for adding a new salary.

What trades have happened in the NBA?

Here's a rundown of the latest in-season trades in the NBA :

76ers trade Caleb Martin to Mavericks

On Feb. 4 the Dallas Mavericks acquired Caleb Martin from Philadelphia for Quentin Grimes and a 2025 second-round draft pick.

Thunder trade draft picks with Hornets

On Feb. 3 the Oklahoma City Thunder traded a 2029 second-round pick to Charlotte for a 2030 second-round pick.

Kings trade De'Aaron Fox to Spurs , Bulls trade Zach LaVine to Kings

On Feb. 2, Sacramento , San Antonio and Chicago made a three-team deal that swapped all-stars De'Aaron Fox and Zach LaVine along with draft picks.

Kings get: Zach LaVine from Chicago, Sidy Cissoko froM San Antonio and 2025, 2027, 2031 first-round picks and a 2025 and two 2028 second-round picks.
Bulls get: Zach Collins and Tre Jones from San Antonio and Kevin Huerter from San Antonio along with a 2025 first-round pick.
Spurs get: De'Aaron Fox and Jordan McLaughlin from Sacramento.

Mavericks trade Luka Doncic to Lakers for Anthony Davis , Jazz gets picks

On Feb. 1, In the first real stunner of the trade season, the Dallas Mavericks sent 25-year-old star guard Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles for big man Anthony Davis. They are the headliners, but the Mavericks also shipped Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris to Los Angeles while the Mavericks also received Max Christie and a 2029 first-round draft pick.

Utah was involved, also, get Jalen Hood-Schifino from and a 2025 second-round pick from Los Angeles. Dallas sent a 2025 second-round pick to the Jazz also.

Clippers trade P.J. Tucker to Utah Jazz

On Feb. 1, the Los Angeles Clippers traded former Milwaukee Bucks fan favorite P.J. Tucker, Mo Bamba , a 2030 second-round pick and cash to the Utah Jazz for Drew Eubanks and Patty Mills .

Phoenix Suns swap first-round picks with Utah Jazz

Per ESPN, the Suns traded an 2031 unprotected first-round pick to the Utah Jazz for 3 first-round picks (least favorable firsts in 2025 of Cleveland/Minnesota, 2027 of Cleveland/Minnesota/Utah and 2029 of Cleveland/Minnesota/Utah).

Suns trade Josh Okogie for Nick Richards

On Jan. 15, Phoenix sent Josh Okogie, a 2026 second-round pick and two, 2031 second-round picks to Charlotte for Nick Richards and a 2025 second-round pick.

Lakers trade D'Angelo Russell for Dorian Finney-Smith , Shake Milton

On Dec. 29, Los Angeles sent Russell, Maxwell Lewis and second-round picks in 2027, 2030 and 2031 to Brooklyn for Finney-Smith and Milton.

Nets trade Dennis Schroder to Warriors

Golden State acquired point guard Dennis Schröder and a 2025 second-round pick from Brooklyn for De'Anthony Melton, Reece Beekman and second-round picks in 2026, 2028 and 2029.

Pacers trade for Thomas Bryant

Indiana made the first deal of the season on Dec. 15, sending a 2031 second-round pick for Thomas Bryant.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee Bucks trade deadline tracker 2025: Rumors, news, dates to know

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