MILWAUKEE -- The collective reaction to the news of the blockbuster three-team deal between the Milwaukee Bucks, Phoenix Suns and the Philadelphia 76ers was one of shock.
But maybe we should have seen a move like this coming from the Bucks.
Just a week ago, general manager John Hammond told a small group of gathered media members that the organization wouldn't let the surprise success of this year's team change Milwaukee's long-term plans.
Acquiring Michael Carter-Williams, Tyler Ennis and Miles Plumlee for restricted-free-agent-to-be Brandon Knight fits that script.
"Look, the big picture for us is becoming a championship-caliber organization," Hammond said Feb. 10. "For us to get short-sighted and say, 'Let's try to win today' and replacing any thought of moving forward into the future, I think we're all aware that's not who we want to be.
"Anything we're looking at today is still hopefully going to be focused on acquiring a piece or talking about adding pieces that can be long-term players for this organization."
It is now clear that Knight wasn't part of those long-term plans. Or the Bucks didn't want to pay him what he is likely going to get on the open market. At that point, Milwaukee would have had to match any offer sheet. One crazy offer to Knight and the Bucks would have been faced with potentially overpaying in order to avoid receiving no compensation.
This trade allows Milwaukee to avoid the situation completely. In exchange for Knight, the Bucks received controllable assets on rookie contracts, which follows their long-term plan.
Milwaukee controls the 23-year-old Carter-Williams through 2017 and the 20-year-old Ennis is under team control through 2018.
What does this mean for the current team? Well, that's less cut and dry.
Knight was Milwaukee's leading scorer and playing at an All-Star level. The Bucks are 30-23 and surprising everyone because of their incredible chemistry and togetherness on and off the court.
It is hard to know how this move will impact the locker room.
After Wednesday's night practice at the Orthopaedic Hospital of Wisconsin Training Center, Bucks coach Jason Kidd was asked if he had any worries about a potential trade messing with chemistry.
"Nope," Kidd responded quickly. "Just be professional. That's what it is about. That's who we are. There's small print saying you can always be traded or fired. You have to accept that.
"This is a special group. Everybody is talking about the trade deadline and making moves, but sometimes it is all right to not make a move. Or it is all right to add a piece. The chemistry here is nothing that can be broken."
Chemistry is one concern, but replacing Knight with Carter-Williams, Ennis and Plumlee will impact the on-court product. Knight wasn't considered a true go-to player but he did take most of Milwaukee's big shots down the stretch.
Carter-Williams isn't anywhere near the shooter Knight is, but he's more of a playmaking point guard. The 6-foot-6 guard should be able to create better looks for Khris Middleton, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jared Dudley and O.J. Mayo.
Ennis was stuck behind Goran Dragic, Eric Bledsoe and Isaiah Thomas in Phoenix. He probably could have used more seasoning in college, but the 6-2 point guard has loads of upside.
The Bucks now have Carter-Williams, Middleton, Jerryd Bayless, Mayo and Ennis in the backcourt, with Dudley and Antetokounmpo as swing players. Plumlee fills the current need of a backup big man. His presence could allow John Henson to play more at his natural position of power forward.
Milwaukee is a playoff team this season, but the Bucks knew they probably weren't going to move any higher than the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference. They also knew it was going to be an uphill climb to win a first-round playoff series, even with Knight. This current team has a ceiling, while the new ownership group doesn't want to be content settling for simply reaching the playoffs.
We now know Milwaukee's core. Carter-Williams and Ennis have been added to Antetokounmpo and Jabari Parker. Without having to pay Knight, the Bucks should be able to keep Middleton, a restricted free agent after the season.
This trade may make the Bucks slightly worse right now. But there's no question it gives them a better chance of having long-term success.
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