NBA Trade Rumors: Bucks target shipping $9.4 million guard to evade $6.5 million hit 

The Milwaukee Bucks are one of the premier organizations in the NBA, but keeping a championship-level roster together under the CBA's new rules can be a tricky game of finances. Evan Sidery of Forbes reported on Friday that the Eastern Conference contender is looking for a team to take on Pat Connaughton in a salary dump trade, enabling them to get under the second apron.

The NBA's second apron is a threshold, agreed upon within the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), that imposes severe financial restrictions on a team that is exceeding a certain salary limit.

Some of the restrictions include losing access to the mid-level exception in free agency, not being able to take in more salary from a trade than what's being sent out, and not being able to aggregate contracts in a trade. The second apron for the 2024-2025 season is set at $189.3 million.

NBA: Indiana Pacers at Milwaukee Bucks - Source: Imagn

Milwaukee currently has one of the most expensive rosters in the league and is $6.5 million over the second apron. According to Sidery, offloading Connaughton's contract ($9,423,869 this season and the next) would allow the two-time NBA champions to get below the second apron and access the ability to aggregate contracts in a trade.

This could lead to a bigger deal down the line involving multiple players, and possibly even assets, in exchange for a star player or someone that Milwaukee deems worth the deal.

Connaughton is in his seventh season for Milwaukee having been a part of their championship team in 2021. He's averaging 4.5 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.6 assists in 15.8 minutes of action while struggling to stay on the floor over just 18 games this season.

Bucks look to keep win streak alive in Orlando

After winning the NBA Cup, the Milwaukee Bucks have struggled to string together consecutive wins going just 5-5 in the 10 games since their victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder in Vegas.

But Milwaukee, currently has the 13th-best offensive and the ninth-best defensive rating in the NBA, has claimed two straight wins against the Toronto Raptors and San Antonio Spurs and will be looking for a third against the Magic.

Their game tonight is particularly important as Orlando sits right above the Bucks in the standings. The Magic are three wins ahead and in sole possession of the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference.

Securing the fourth seed is crucial if Milwaukee wants homecourt advantage in the first round of the playoffs.