Bucks Trade Thon Maker To Detroit Pistons After Agent Asks For Trade Request

by Elijah FultonFebruary 7, 2019, 2:28 pmNews >

Former lottery pick, Thon Maker, originally drafted by the Bucks, was traded this week to the Detroit Pistons for small forward Stanley Johnson.

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Maker hasn’t been playing much this season, only averaging 11 minutes a game and having over 10 DNPs. The limit on his minutes have also limited his contributions, which have been minimal as well with Maker averaging 4 points and 3 rebounds per contest.

However, things weren’t always like this for Maker. He was originally the 10th draft pick and a lottery pick at that, and the Bucks had high hopes for Maker. In his rookie year, he started towards the end of the season and through the playoffs when the Bucks were facing off against the Raptors in a tough series. Last season he came up big again in the playoffs, recording 5 blocks in 5 minutes.

However a major change occurred when the Milwaukee Bucks decided to fire their former coach and to hire Mike Budenholzer. When a new coach comes to a team, they try to experiment with different combinations to get the best out of the talent that they have. This could also lead to lineup changes, to ensure the best players that go along with his philosophy are in the game. There’s also minute restrictions, as players who were used to having a role or a bigger role are no longer playing. And this of course leads to unhappy players, which lead to trades.

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All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo had this to say about the trade: “He was the heart and soul of this team,” forward Antetokounmpo said. “He was the glue of this team.” Giannis and Maker managed to grow close in the time they had spent together.

He added, “I talked to Thon, but I didn’t try to talk to him a lot cause I know I would get emotional cause he’s technically my little brother, been with him three years,” “You know, it’s tough, but he’s a tough guy and this opportunity is going to be good for him.”