Milwaukee Bucks Trade Brandon Knight, Acquire Michael Carter-Williams

The Milwaukee Bucks traded Brandon Knight to the Phoenix Suns and acquired Michael Carter-Williams from the Philadelphia 76ers during an action-packed NBA Trade Deadline day on Feb. 19.

The Milwaukee Bucks have traded Brandon Knight and acquired Michael Carter-Williams.

Charles F. Gardner of The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported during the NBA’s Trade Deadline on Feb. 19 that the Bucks traded Knight to the Phoenix Suns in the three-team deal which also involves the Philadelphia 76ers. Milwaukee gets point guards Michael Carter-Williams and Tyler Ennis as well as center Miles Plumlee.

ESPN’s Marc Stein confirms the three-team trade. 

Gardner notes Milwaukee sent Knight to the Suns shortly after the Miami Heat acquired coveted Slovenian point guard Goran Dragic, who wanted out of Phoenix.

As for Knight, he will become a restricted free agent at the conclusion of the 2014-15 NBA season. He and the Bucks failed to agree on a on a contract extension last year, per Gardner. Knight participated in an open practice at Al McGuire Center on Feb. 19. Less than 30 minutes after it ended, he was no longer with the Bucks. 

The Suns also received backup point guard Kendall Marshall, who is expected to be waived, on Thursday. Phoenix drafted Marshall 13th overall three years ago. He sustained an ACL injury on Jan. 15 and has been ruled out of the season since then. 

According to The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the Bucks were not afraid of making wholesale changes for their long-term future prior to the NBA Trade Deadline on Thursday. Just prior to this year’s All-Star break, Bucks general manager John Hammond told Gardner the team will not trade players meant for just short-term success. Hammond maintained his focus is on Milwaukee’s long-term future. 

I can’t lie I’m shocked. I love this city thank you for everything. I can honestly say I gave it my all. I wish Philly nothing but the best— Michael Carter-Willi (@MCW1) February 19, 2015

The Bucks are 8-1 in their last nine games entering the All-Star break to up their current win-loss record to 30-23, good for sixth in the East. They are expected to release veteran power forward Kenyon Martin to accommodate their three new players, per Gardner.

Milwaukee is looking to build on their momentum. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel update says Carter-Williams, Ennis and Plumlee will join an exciting young core that includes Jerry Bayless, O.J. Mayo, Khris Middleton and Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Carter-Williams needs to shore up his long-range sniping: His shooting percentage (25.6)  is next-to-last among players with at least 100 three-point attempts. What’s more is his field-goal percentage ranks third-lowest among players who take an average of at least 10 shots per game, according to ESPN’s Stats & Information. 

As for the Sixers, they acquired center Javale McGee, point guard Isaiah Canaan, two top-five protected picks from the Suns, a second-round draft choice and the rights to a player from overseas named Chukwudiebere Maduabum, per The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Keith Pompey.  “The pick is protected 1-5 in 2015, 1-3 in 2016 and ’17 and unprotected in ’18” says Gardner. 

To acquire Canaan, Philly had to trade rookie shooting guard K.J. McDaniels to the Houston Rockets, adds Pompey. In order to get McGee and Maduabum from the Nuggets, the Sixers traded the rights to Turkish guard Cenk Akyol to Denver. 

Pompey notes the Sixers are currently 12-41 and are hoping to stay out of the Eastern Conference cellar as the season winds down. 

Prior to the trade, Carter-Williams had been averaging around 15 points and 7.4 assists, per The Philadelphia Daily Inquirer. As for Knight, he was contributing an average of 17.8 points, 5.4 assists and 4.3 rebounds per game for the Bucks, according to ESPN. 

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