NBA Trade Rumors: Milwaukee Bucks eyeing $43,031,940 Bulls star amid plans to offload Khris Middleton before trade deadline

The Milwaukee Bucks have found themselves in a position to make a move before the NBA trade deadline on Feb. 6. This time around, the name the Bucks reportedly find themselves interested in is Zach Lavine, a former All-Star playing for the Chicago Bulls:

Lavine is in the third year of a five-year, $215 million extension he signed with the Bulls in 2022. His cap hit is $43,031,940 this season, meaning the Bucks would have to move a large contract to acquire him. People believe Khris Middleton's contract would be moved. Middleton's cap hit is $31,666,667 for this season.

NBA insider Kevin O'Connor gave his thoughts on his podcast, "The Kevin O'Connor Show" on Friday.

The Bucks hope to acquire a star to form a big three alongside former NBA MVP power forward Giannis Antetokounmpo and former All-NBA point guard Damian Lillard. A trio of Antetokounmpo, Lillard and Lavine could make the Bucks a top contender in the Eastern Conference, and the front office hopes it would get them back to their first NBA Finals since 2021 when they won it all.

Milwaukee Bucks have made Khris Middleton, Bobby Portis, Pat Connaughton available on trade market

The Milwaukee Bucks have entered the NBA trade rumors recently as they have made their desire to add a third star known. Now, the Bucks have started throwing potential names out from their roster as to who may be included in these hypothetical trades.

Khris Middleton, Bobby Portis and Pat Connaughton are all reportedly on the table to facilitate a trade to Milwaukee. They will use the Middleton, Portis and Connaughton packages to shed salaries to add players either via trade or the buyout market.

The Bucks (25-18) sit fourth in the East as they approach the All-Star break. They will look to be active at the deadline trying to improve their roster to compete with Cleveland, Boston and New York, who are all above them in the standings.

A player like Zach Lavine could do wonders to take the scoring load off of Antetokounmp and Lillard and give the Milwaukee Bucks a powerful big three as they enter the back half of the regular season and the playoffs.