The Milwaukee Bucks just finished a three-team trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Washington Wizards. As a result, the Bucks received a couple of veterans, namely George Hill from the Cavs and Jason Smith from the Wizards. Sam Dekker, however, was shipped to the Wizards before playing his first game for the Milwaukee.
The Cavs, in return, received a first and second-round pick from the Bucks in 2021. Matthew Dellavedova and John Henson were also shipped to Cleveland.
Zach Lowe of ESPN broke down the details of the future picks the Cavs are receiving:
Protections on MIL 1st going to CLE, per sources: 1-14 in 2021; 1-10 in 2022; 1-10 and 25-30 in 2023; 1-8 in 2024. Converts to two seconds in 2025 if not conveyed by then.
According to Justin Verrier of The Ringer, the team is focusing on their present rather than the future. The trade for Hill is also seen as a move that maximizes the Bucks’ title window and future cap flexibility.
As it appears, the team is already capitalizing on their opportunity to win a title while their superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo is still with them. Antetokounmpo is signed with the team until the 2020-21 season and will be a free agent afterward.
According to Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com, the 2021 first-round pick is protected and will be more likely conveyed in 2022 or 2023. It is due to a previous deal between the Bucks and the Phoenix Suns, who sent Eric Bledsoe to the team in 2017. The Ted Stepien rule comes into place as the league prohibits a team from trading two-consecutive first-round picks.
The Cavs are not expected to be as competitive this year compared to their previous four campaigns. It is due to the departure of their two biggest stars in the past two offseasons. First, Kyrie Irving was traded to the Boston Celtics in 2017. LeBron James then joined the Los Angeles Lakers this summer.
Cleveland is largely focused on bringing future picks to the team. They’ve already shipped Kyle Korver to the Utah Jazz in exchange for Alec Burks and two future second-round picks.
