The Milwaukee Bucks are working the phones ahead of the 2025–26 NBA trade deadline, and their focus is clear: find another scorer who can ease the burden on Giannis Antetokounmpo. Multiple outlets say Zach LaVine sits near the top of the wish list, with Jerami Grant also a priority target. Talks are active and ongoing, but all reporting stresses one thing: nothing is done.

The missing piece in the headline is the price. According to detailed frameworks circulating across reports and team blogs, the Bucks have discussed sending Kyle Kuzma and Bobby Portis to the Sacramento Kings, plus draft capital, for LaVine. The most consistent version includes a lottery-protected 2029 first-round pick and pick swaps in 2028 and 2030. At one point, Sacramento pushed for Milwaukee’s 2031 first instead, a step the Bucks are said to be hesitant to take.

Why the structure looks like this is simple cap math. LaVine is owed around $47.5 million this season and holds a $49 million player option for next year. Milwaukee is deep into the apron, so any big move must match salary rather than use cap space. Combining Kuzma and Portis gets you there.

Where the Zach LaVine talks stand right now

These are exploratory conversations. BasketNews reported that Milwaukee and Sacramento have discussed a LaVine package built around Kuzma and Portis. Yahoo framed LaVine and Grant as the Bucks’ top targets and added that there is strong interest but “no deal is imminent.” That aligns with broader chatter: active, real, but not agreed.

“If the price is Kuzma, Portis and far-out picks, is LaVine really the answer?”

Why Milwaukee is chasing LaVine’s scoring and shooting

The Bucks’ need has been easy to spot in recent weeks. When Giannis rests, or when teams pack the paint, the offense can grind down. Local analysis pieces put it plainly: Milwaukee wants another scorer who can carry possessions, hit threes, and win in isolation while also drawing attention when Giannis is on the floor.

LaVine checks those boxes. He can create his own shot, space the floor, and punish single coverage. One fantasy-impact style article pinned his usage rate at 23.3% as the Kings’ primary scoring option. In Milwaukee, that usage could hold or even tick up in the regular season, and the threat of his shooting would force defenses to stay honest around Giannis’ drives.

What the Kings would gain in a deal

Sacramento’s angle is about reshaping the roster and adding options. In the versions discussed, the Kings would pick up Kuzma and Portis—frontcourt size, rebounding, and depth—plus future assets. Draft flexibility matters for a team reassessing after a rough stretch; one support piece put the Kings at 8–28, a record that invites retooling.

Those picks and swaps also hold potential long-term value if Milwaukee’s outlook changes by 2028–2031. That’s why the 2031 first-round pick has been a pressure point. The Bucks have reasons to keep it. The Kings have reasons to ask.

“Trading size and depth for one scorer is a bet on May, not January.”

Cap reality: apron constraints shape the deal

The Bucks are well above the salary cap and are navigating first- and second-apron limits. That tight space is why the conversation centers on matching money (Kuzma + Portis) and far-out picks rather than creative signings. LaVine’s near-max number, with that pricey player option, is both the path to higher-end talent and a real financial risk.

One mock analysis that framed Milwaukee at 16–21 and 11th in the East captured the urgency: the Bucks need an offensive jolt if they want to climb. But the apron era punishes mistakes. A big contract that doesn’t fit can be hard to unwind, and shipping future picks limits flexibility down the road.

Risk, reward and the internal debate

There is no shortage of strong opinions. Some local voices call Milwaukee’s interest in LaVine an “obsession,” arguing he is a high-usage scorer who needs the ball and brings defensive concerns. They warn that taking on his deal through 2027 at near-max numbers could lock the Bucks into a core that might not be a true title favorite.

There’s also a roster-shape concern. If Kuzma goes out, the Bucks would be moving their big wing without a like-for-like replacement. Another opinion piece pointed to recent breakouts from Kevin Porter Jr. and Ryan Rollins as reasons Milwaukee may not need another scoring guard, at least not one who costs this much in players and picks.

On the other side, the pro-LaVine case is simple: he solves a real problem. He’s a reliable creator, a proven shooter, and a player who can win a playoff game with a hot quarter. In short, he gives Giannis a partner who warps defenses.

“Grant fits the two-way mold better, but LaVine moves the needle faster.”

Jerami Grant, Malik Monk and the alternate paths

LaVine isn’t the only name. Yahoo labeled LaVine and Portland’s Jerami Grant as the Bucks’ top targets. An ESPN fits piece echoed the broader search, saying Milwaukee has inquired on LaVine, Grant, and Sacramento’s Malik Monk. Grant, in particular, offers more two-way balance and size, while Monk would bring punch off the bench at a lower price point.

The open question: what does Milwaukee value more right now—elite shot creation or lineup balance and defense? The answer likely decides whether the front office pushes its best chips in on LaVine or divvies assets across a different kind of move.

What to watch as the deadline approaches

All signs point to a poker game. The Kings want prime assets for LaVine and have asked about a 2031 first. The Bucks prefer to protect their far-out future and lean on near-term swaps. If Milwaukee blinks on that 2031 pick, momentum could shift. If Sacramento softens to swaps, the math gets easier.

Beyond the picks, keep an eye on two practical questions:

• Depth: Can the Bucks afford to lose Kuzma and Portis and still hold up across an 8-man playoff rotation?
• Fit: How would LaVine’s usage and shot profile blend with Giannis and the rest of the starters?

For now, the talks are real but preliminary. The Bucks are clearly willing to sacrifice depth for offense if the deal is right. Whether “right” means LaVine plus pricey picks, a pivot to Grant, or a smaller swing for Monk will define their spring—and maybe their next three seasons.

In short: the Bucks are at the fork in the road. Choose firepower, or choose flexibility. The clock is ticking.