Bucks Among Leading Contenders to Acquire Defensive Player of the Year Finalist

After an atrocious start, the Milwaukee Bucks have shown life as the season has gone on.

Currently, the Bucks sport a 13-11 record, winning nine of their last 11games. This has firmly put them in sixth place in the Eastern Conference.

While this is certainly exciting for fans of the franchise, there are still places where Milwaukee can improve.

Most notably, the Bucks can use help on defense. Sure, their interior defense might be one of the best in the league, but the team is still looking for some extra help on the perimeter.

But fortunately, it looks like there’s an excellent option that is reportedly on the trade market, and the Bucks have decent odds to land him.

According to Bovada, via NBACentral, Milwaukee has +450 odds to land New Orleans Pelicans forward Herbert Jones in a potential trade.

Currently, one of the best defenders in the game, Jones averages 3.4 total rebounds and 1.9 steals per contest. Meanwhile, Jones is averaging 10.7 points along with two assists.

This is a reflection of Jones’ last season, as he came fifth in NBA Defensive Player of the Year voting and was named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team.

This reflects his time in college, too, as Jones was named twice to the SEC All-Defensive Team (2020, 2021), the SEC Defensive Player of the Year in 2021, and the SEC Player of the Year in 2021.

Needless to say, Jones would be a great addition to the Bucks. Milwaukee is in the Top 10 for most defensive statistics except for three-point defense. Jones would be the perfect player to give the Bucks the perimeter boost they need.

While there’s no way Jones would take Giannis Antetokounmpo’s position at power forward, he would be a perfect fit at small forward over Taurean Prince.

All other categories, however, don’t exactly fit what the squad needs at this moment of their Prince, who has the NBA leading three-point percentage of 53.6 percent coming in, is averaging 7.9 points, 4.2 total rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 0.8 steals at this point in the season. With Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee had more than enough scoring prowess. Lillard is logging 25.8 ppg while Antetokounmpo is leading the league with 32.7 points per game.

Where the Bucks need help is guarding that perimeter. And the best solution for that is easily Jones. If he does wind up on the trade market, Milwaukee should make a move.