The Milwaukee Bucks are yet to make a trade this season but it appears we should expect them to make at least one before the Feb. 6 deadline. NBA insider Marc Stein reports that the Bucks are as determined as any team in the league to make a move.

“I continue to hear whispered warnings: Don’t forget about the Bucks… The Bucks are routinely described as a team quite determined to make at least one move before the trade buzzer sounds to try to enhance the supporting cast around Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard. As determined as any team on the NBA map, as relayed to me, to make a trade before the buzzer sounds.”

The Bucks have steadied the ship after a woeful start to the season and are currently fourth in the East with a 26-19 record. Their determination to make a trade suggests they feel the need to add another piece or two to be a serious contender and that would be an accurate assessment.

The Bucks have gone 0-8 this season against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, and New York Knicks, the three teams above them in the standings in the conference. Now, regular season games aren’t necessarily an indicator of what will happen in the playoffs, but at this point, you don’t fancy the Bucks’ chances against those three in the postseason. They need to further strengthen their roster.

In that quest to improve, the Bucks have reportedly made Khris Middleton and Bobby Portis available in trade talks. It will be interesting to see what they are able to get in return for the two veterans.

The Bucks are rumored to be trying to land Zach LaVine as part of a Jimmy Butler trade. LaVine is averaging 24.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.2 blocks per game for the Chicago Bulls in 2024-25. He would certainly improve the Bucks but would he make them the best team in the East? Probably not.

Butler might, but it was reported that he didn’t want to go to the Bucks. They might still consider going after him but with all the problems he has seemingly caused on the Miami Heat, that might not be a good idea.

As things stand, it is hard to see a realistic trade that would make the Bucks the favorite in the East, which is a shocking statement to make considering how well Giannis Antetokounmpo is playing. Antetokounmpo has averaged 31.5 points, 12.2 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 0.8 steals, and 1.4 blocks per game for the Bucks in 2024-25.

Antetokounmpo’s play has made him an MVP candidate and Damian Lillard is playing much better in his second season in Milwaukee too, but the Bucks don’t have the right pieces around them to win it all. You could argue they don’t have the right coach either, as Doc Rivers hasn’t shown that he is capable of leading a team to a title in years.

Perhaps the Bucks will prove all the doubters wrong, but it seems unlikely. They’ll be in action next against the San Antonio Spurs at Frost Bank Center on Friday at 8 PM ET.