The Milwaukee Bucks are one of the hottest teams in the NBA, having won 11 of their past 14 games. This run, which came as a surprise to many, has help Milwaukee improve their season record to 13-11 after their woeful 2-8 start. Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard have been hard at work developing on-court chemistry, and their persistence at chasing greatness has been paying off.

Fortunately for Bucks fans, the team’s recent run of success has quieted the trade rumors that surrounded the team in the early weeks of the season. During their poor start, and especially during their early six-game losing streak, many wondered aloud if Milwaukee should trade Giannis and/or Dame and start over.

But while very few are doubting that the Bucks are Eastern Conference contenders now, these trade rumors and suggestions have gone from Milwaukee finding a way to blow up their roster to the team finding a way to get even better.

One NBA Analyst Suggest the Milwaukee Bucks Trade Damian Lillard for LeBron James

Feb 8, 2022; Los Angeles, California, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) shoots against Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (6) during the second half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez
Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James recently left the team on what head coach JJ Reddick calls an excused absence. When asked why LeBron, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, is away from the team, Reddick only said it was for personal reasons. Furthermore, he said he did not know when the four-time NBA MVP would rejoin the Lakers

While there is no indication that LeBron is unhappy with the Lakers, it has not stopped the trade rumor mill from churning out proposals. One of these by Eddie Bitar of Fadeaway World sees the Bucks acquire King James in exchange for Damian Lillard:

“On paper, this trade pairs LeBron with Giannis Antetokounmpo, creating an absolutely terrifying duo that would have the basketball world buzzing. The thought of LeBron as the maestro and Giannis as the unstoppable force is enough to make every team in the East quake.

“For the Lakers, getting Damian Lillard is a gift. Dame is still in his prime posting 25.8 points and 7.6 assists per game, and his elite scoring and leadership would bring fresh energy to Los Angeles. Pairing him with Anthony Davis gives the Lakers a lethal inside-out combo that could keep them firmly in contention. Lillard doesn’t address the Lakers’ depth issues, but when you’ve got Dame dropping 30 a night, they’ll figure it out.”

The problem, of course, is that this trade idea makes absolutely no sense for the Bucks.

The Milwaukee Bucks Will Not Trade Damian Lillard for LeBron James

Dec 8, 2024; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (0) passes the ball as Brooklyn Nets center Day’Ron Sharpe (20) defends during the second half at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: John Jones 
There is no question the LeBron, who is nearly 40 years old, is still one of the most dynamic players in the NBA. This season, he is averaging 23.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 9.1 assists while shooting 50/36/76 from the floor.

That being said, Milwaukee’s early season struggles prove one major flaw in the reasoning for the trade proposal above. Writing, “when you’ve got Dame dropping 30 a night, they’ll figure it out,” is simply unrealistic. This is the NBA, not a video game. One cannot just pluck players from one team, put them on another, and expect immediate changes.

Sometimes that does happen, but the Bucks’ 2024-25 season is a perfect example of how important chemistry is. While the idea of Giannis and LeBron being on the same team is intriguing, such a trade would ruin what Milwaukee has worked (and continues working to) build.