The Milwaukee Bucks made a trade on Thursday, but it surprisingly appeared to have little to do with Khris Middleton’s devastating injury.
According to reports from both The Vertical and Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the Bucks traded point guard Tyler Ennis to the Houston Rockets for forward Michael Beasley.
Houston has traded Michael Beasley to the Bucks for guard Tyler Ennis, league sources tell @TheVertical.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) September 22, 2016
Beasley, the former 2nd overall pick out of Kansas State, will now be joining his fifth team since entering the league in 2008. The move comes as sort of a low-risk, high-reward type scenario as Beasley has shown glimpses of excellence throughout his career, including a 19.2 points per game season as a member of the Timberwolves back in the 2010-11 season.
On the other side, Ennis has played just 79 games in his career, having always been a part of a crowded Milwaukee back court. He averaged just 4.5 points for the Bucks last season, the highest mark of his short two year career.
The Rockets made a late-season signing to acquire Beasley last year in the middle of their postseason surge that landed them the eighth spot in the West. Beasley averaged 12.8 points in 18.2 minutes during his 20-game span with the team.
It is reported that the Bucks and Rockets were in discussion to bring Beasley over before Middleton’s injury on Tuesday, which could mean the team may be interested in making another move to help compensate for his loss.
Word is Bucks and Rockets were talking about deal before Middleton suffered torn left hamstring on Tuesday.
— cfgardner (@cf_gardner) September 22, 2016
Photo courtesy of USA Today.