Bucks Trade Rumors: Lottery team facilitates Jimmy Butler's blockbuster union with old foe Giannis Antetokounmpo

The Milwaukee Bucks remain involved in NBA trade rumors amid their pursuit of Jimmy Butler to form the league's newest big three with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard. The Bucks are desperate to win a title in this window with their star-studded duo. As presently constructed, the Bucks might not beat most of their rival contenders in the East.

The 2021 champions will likely need a major move to shake things up in the conference, and winning the Butler sweepstakes could be key. With Giannis and Lillard, he could form one of the most formidable trios seen across the league in recent memory.

According to Brian Windhorst's latest report from Friday, Jimmy Butler remains interested in a move to the Phoenix Suns. However, the Suns face significant obstacles in orchestrating a deal as their trade centerpiece, Bradley Beal has a no-trade clause, and there's uncertainty on whether he would cooperate in helping their pursuit of Butler.

Meanwhile, the Heat star is adamant on moving on from Miami despite returning to action after a seven-game suspension. As per The Atheltic's Sam Amick, the Bucks are a 'sleeper' team to acquire Butler, and his camp hasn't rejected the idea of playing in Milwaukee.

The Bucks previously pulled off a surprise Damian Lillard trade, so it's a glaring possibility they might go all in on Jimmy Butler, too. While the entire league assumed he would head to the Heat, the Bucks stunned everyone by entering the frame in the final stages and completing the blockbuster trade.

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How one lottery team could facilitate Jimmy Butler's star-studded union with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bucks

Jimmy Butler's $48,798,677 is one of the biggest reasons no deal has come to fruition, despite his eagerness to leave the Miami Heat. If it wasn't clear already, any team, especially a contender over the apron, must engage a third team to complete this deal.

It applies to the Bucks, too. They can't take back more salary in return, and the Heat are unlikely to swap players directly with them as they would need to cut players to accommodate them. While it is complicated if the Bucks and Heat involve the Toronto Raptors in this trade, perhaps a deal could materialize.

According to Raptors' beat writer Dough Smith, the team is willing to facilitate a deal for Jimmy Butler, making it a realistic scenario for all parties involved. The Raptors have the cap room to take on additional salary. They own a couple of contracts they could part ways with in this deal, so it's an affordable proposition with the lure of securing draft compensation.

Here's what every team would secure and why they should be open to this deal:

Milwaukee Bucks receive:

• Jimmy Butler via Heat
• Garrett Temple via Raptors
• Jonathan Magbo via Raptors
• Keshad Johnson via Heat

The Bucks' main goal is to acquire Jimmy Butler. The other three players on this deal are all contracts worth $2 million or less, used for salary-matching purposes by Miami and Toronto, who can accept the incoming contracts from Milwaukee.

Miami Heat receive:

• Bruce Brown via Raptors
• Bobby Portis via Bucks
• Pat Connaughton via Bucks
• 2031 first-round pick via Bucks
• 2031 second-round pick via Bucks

The Heat would lose their best two-way player on the frontcourt, but it allows them to acquire other viable candidates they can keep or toss in another trade. Bruce Brown is a solid player they can retain.

He was instrumental in leading the Denver Nuggets to the 2023 championship when they beat the Heat in the finals. Brown would be an excellent fit in the backcourt next to Herro as a point-of-attack defender and secondary ball-handler/playmaker.

He is also on an expiring $23 million contract. Meanwhile, Portis gives Miami more size and spacing as a backup power forward or center who can also play next to Bam Adebayo. Pat Connaughton might be a surplus to the Heat's backcourt, but to finalize the negotiations, they must accept his $9.4 million salary. Miami can flip him in another trade and possibly create an exception.

Toronto Raptors receive:

• Khris Middleton via Bucks
• 2029 first-round pick via Heat

The Raptors acquire a key veteran presence of Khris Middleton for the next two years. They can move him in another trade. If the Raptors can't, they can wait another season and buy him out in 2026. At the same time, they will get significant value in return on Bruce Brown's expiring $23 million deal with the 2029 first-round pick via the Heat.

Middleton has been injury-prone, so the Raptors won't have to bother much about offering him playing time as they seemingly tank to secure the top pick in the 2025 draft.

Here's what the eventual framework of the deal sending Jimmy Butler to the Bucks looks like:

Trade orchestrated by the author via Fanspo

The Bucks have been open to moving Middleton, a vital cog in their 2021 championship run. His prolonged health issues have impacted the team since the 2022 playoffs, making him expendable in search of upgrades. Not many teams can absorb his salary, but the Raptors, who aren't looking to contend for the playoffs, could be the right fit.