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San Antonio Spurs: One offseason trade with every team – Milwaukee Bucks

ByDylan Carter|
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JANUARY 04: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks shoots over Derrick White #4 of the San Antonio Spurs during the second half of a game at Fiserv Forum on January 04, 2020 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JANUARY 04: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks shoots over Derrick White #4 of the San Antonio Spurs during the second half of a game at Fiserv Forum on January 04, 2020 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

There aren’t many deals that make sense between the Milwaukee Bucks and San Antonio Spurs, but swapping guards could change both team’s outlook.

This exercise is particularly difficult with some of the top contending teams. There’s really no scenario in which the Milwaukee Bucks would trade the reigning MVP to the San Antonio Spurs barring a major blowout between both parties. We cannot in good faith project that to be the truth, which means that Khris Middleton isn’t a viable trade target either.

Milwaukee is in a win-now mindset that limits its options — especially when you consider that the Spurs won’t want any part of their other expensive starters, Eric Bledsoe (30) and Brook Lopez (32). With that in mind, the Bucks need to be moving one of their young assets for a player who can help contribute to winning as early as next season.

There’s a case to be made that the Spurs’ backcourt rotation, for as talented as it is, doesn’t fit together all too great and would be better off being altered. Fair warning, I’m not a big fan of this deal, but it’s one that could end up being beneficial for both sides in the long-run.

The San Antonio Spurs and Milwaukee Bucks swap guards — Donte DiVincenzo for Derrick White.

Statistically, Bucks guard Donte DiVincenzo and Spurs guard Derrick White are relatively similar. They’re around the same height, though White is a bit lankier while DiVincenzo is quicker. White plays more of a ball-handler role that would contribute well to a team headed by Giannis that needs solid secondary playmakers to initiate offense and get him the ball. Coach Mike Budenholzer’s system would get Derrick good looks on the perimeter and help him ascend into a full-time starter.

Meanwhile, DiVincenzo can bring some gritty play to the table as a bench guy for the Spurs. This would let Lonnie Walker IV slide back to his natural shooting guard position, giving San Antonio’s lineup a chance to trend toward its strengths of athleticism and dynamism instead of White’s cool, calm and collected style in which he controls pace and slows the game down.

DiVincenzo averaged 9.4 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.4 steals per game this season as an exciting two-way athlete who can create shots for himself or others. Unlike some of the other players in the Spurs’ lineup, he makes for a more natural sixth man who can energize a bench unit with his hard-nosed approach to the game while fitting better with the San Antonio’s timeline.

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Being that DiVincenzo is three years younger than White, he won’t need to be extended for a few years unlike White, who’s up for an extension this offseason. If the Spurs can’t come to a contract agreement to keep him in town, moving him would probably end up being the better option. It’d be a shame because most Spurs fans and analysts would like to see White and Dejounte Murray share the court before even pondering a trade, but alas, things don’t always work out how you want them to.

These are two extremely similar players, but White is more mature than DiVincenzo. Having him come up in the Spurs’ system and absorb some of those backcourt minutes in place of White and the potential departure of Bryn Forbes would give a poor defensive team some extra heat to throw at opposing stars. The same can be said of White, though we don’t know how high his ceiling is or how much money we’ll garner in the open market.

Like I said earlier, I’m not married to this one, but some teams are harder to find trades with than others and the Bucks felt impossible to peruse.

You can find other articles in this series by clicking on the team name below:

Western Conference: LA Clippers, Sacramento Kings, Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns, Golden State Warriors, Portland Trail Blazers, Utah Jazz, Oklahoma City Thunder, Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, New Orleans Pelicans, Houston Rockets, Dallas Mavericks, Memphis Grizzlies.    Eastern Conference: Indiana Pacers, Cleveland Cavaliers, Chicago Bulls, Detroit Pistons.

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