Bucks looking to trade away surprising player?

Mar 30, 2016; Milwaukee, WI, USA; The Milwaukee Bucks logo on the floor prior to the game against the Phoenix Suns at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Milwaukee won 105-94. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

The Milwaukee Bucks may be sacrificing one timeline to chase another.

NBA writer Jake Fischer reports this weekend that the Bucks have interest in trading away forward MarJon Beauchamp. Fischer notes that dangling Beauchamp may help Milwaukee acquire a defensive-minded wing.

That is a pretty surprising turn of events given that Beauchamp, 24, is seen as perhaps the single best young player on the Bucks roster. He has strong two-way upside at 6-foot-6, made 48 rotation appearances for Milwaukee last year, and averaged 21.1 points per game in the G League. Beauchamp even drew rave reviews from Milwaukee’s top stars at one point.

But Beauchamp is still very much a work in progress, and the Bucks likely do not have time to wait around for his development. Khris Middleton is 33, Damian Lillard is 34, and Brook Lopez is 36, meaning that Milwaukee’s window to win is right now. That is not even counting franchise player Giannis Antetokounmpo, who turns 30 this year and recently caused a ruckus with his comments about possibly being traded.