The Milwaukee Bucks have won eight of their last nine games, including five straight, after their drubbing of the Miami Heat on Thursday night.

Their recent success has pulled them within 2.5 games of the New York Knicks and within 4.5 games of the Boston Celtics. The Knicks and Celtics have both won half of their last ten games, which has allowed the Bucks to creep into reasonable range as the trade deadline approaches.

Recently, NBA Insider Brian Windhorst of ESPN reported on one of the league’s worst-kept secrets.

“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,” Windhorst wrote.

Financially, a Connaughton salary dump would bring the Bucks below the pesky second apron as he is set to earn $9.4 million this season. Furthermore, Middleton will make $31.6 million while Portis will earn $12.5 million. Due to these relatively hefty salaries, the Bucks could be in line for a fairly significant move.

However, some of the fanbase has acknowledged the benefits of continuity, and noted their recent success despite winning two of their first ten games.

One self-proclaimed Bucks enthusiast shared their perspective, “I’m fine with the biggest move the Bucks make this deadline being a guaranteed contract for Ryan Rollins.”

Middleton was benched a couple weeks ago which may have been the first sign of his possible expendability. The decision was reportedly health-related due to lingering tendinitis, though. Trading Middleton remains the Bucks’ easiest path to acquire star-level talent at the deadline. However, cutting ties with a player who has built connections with the city and developed alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo for over a decade would polarize the fanbase.

Some fans argue a win-now move is needed to legitimately contend for a championship while others are willing to remain patient with the currently-constructed team.

One fan shared their hesitance on a potential significant deadline move, “I wouldn’t trade stars mid-season the way other trades have worked recently, chemistry-wise. The way we are trending right now is the idealized version of the [Lillard] trade. [Lillard] is playing as intended for the first time. Need a backup center…and we are good in my opinion.”

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