Bucks Trade Rumors: 'Desperate' for support around Giannis - Dame, $31,666,667 guard and two others hit chopping block

The Milwaukee Bucks got a rocky start to the season, but they've looked much better since.

Doc Rivers' team has won 25 of its first 42 games, and they trail the New York Knicks by 2.5 games in the race for the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference.

Nevertheless, that might not be good enough for them. According to a report by ESPN insiders Tim Bontemps and Brian Windhorst, their desperation to add another star is "high" right now.

Considering that, they're willing to make three key rotational pieces available for trade, as their salary-cap restrictions otherwise prevent them from landing a star.

"The Bucks have been active this trade season, sources said, with Khris Middleton, Bobby Portis and Pat Connaughton all expected to be available in potential moves to bring back an impact player," Bontemps and Windhorst wrote. "Like Phoenix did, the Bucks have only their 2031 first-round pick to trade, but they also need to shed around $6.5 million in a deal to get below the second apron to be able to combine players in a trade."

Middleton, who is making $31.6 million this season, per Spotrac, has struggled to return to his pre-injury level. He has one year left in his contract, but being a player-option, his deal could be a serviceable trade piece for the Bucks.

The Bucks want to take care of business

The Milwaukee Bucks knew they fell short of the expectations last season and can't allow themselves to go through the same this time. That's why Damian Lillard wants to set the tone and make it loud and clear that there will be no excuses.

The Bucks' game against the New Orleans Pelicans was postponed due to adverse weather conditions, and the players had to stay there for three years without being able to practice. Notably, they still took care of business against the Miami Heat.

“As a leader of a team, you gotta let the team know off the rip we’re not doing that,” Lillard said. “We’re not having excuses. I don’t care about the flight. I don’t care we’ve been in the hotel. You gotta take that away from the team as a leader and let them know, ain’t gonna be no excuses tonight. We gotta go out here and jump on them, like we’ve been doing.”

The Bucks defeated the Heat 125-96, and Lillard made a statement with 29 points and 11 assists, including nine 3-pointers. It's up to the rest of the team to follow his lead.