After adding guard Eric Bledsoe via trade with the Phoenix Suns early this season, the Milwaukee Bucks are now working out a trade for a big man to boost their frontline. According to Gery Woelfel, a long-time writer for the Bucks, the team wants to pursue Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan or Philadelphia 76ers big man Jahlil Okafor. The Bucks are in need of a reliable big man as they only have John Henson and Thon Maker as paint protectors. However, the Clippers' asking price for Jordan is steep, according to Woelfel, who reported that the team is asking for two to three players in exchange for their veteran big man.

Woelfel said the Clippers want center John Henson, guard Malcolm Brogdon, and swingman Khris Middleton for Jordan.

Clippers' asking price too steep

It is unlikely that the Bucks would agree to the deal as Brogdon and Middleton are two of their best players. Brogdon, the reigning Rookie of the Year, is averaging 13.1 points, 3.7 assists, and 2.7 rebounds per game on top of his outstanding defense and ball-handling abilities. After missing most of last season, Middleton is now healthy and averaging a career-best 19.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game for the Bucks, who have a 12-10 mark this season. This season, Jordan is averaging 10.4 points, 13.0 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game for the Clippers, who dropped to 8-14 after a three-game losing streak.

In 688 games with the Clippers, Jordan has career averages of 9.2 points, 10.2 boards, and 1.8 blocks. Earlier, it was reported that the Cleveland Cavaliers are interested in trading for Jordan.

Bucks might settle for Okafor

If the Bucks cannot afford Jordan, they may have to settle for the 21-year-old Okafor, who is asking for a trade or buyout from the 76ers after he fell out of the rotation under coach Brett Brown.

The 76ers may ask for a second-round pick or an expiring contract from the Bucks for Okafor, whom they picked third overall in the 2015 NBA Draft. However, Okafor was relegated to the bench after Brown settled for Joel Embiid as starting center and Rishaun Holmes as backup big man. Okafor has played just two games this season, averaging 5.0 points and 4.5 boards.

In his rookie year with the 76ers, the 6-foot-10 Okafor averaged 17.5 points and 7.0 rebounds in 53 games. The following year, Okafor’s output dropped to 11.8 points and 5.8 boards in 53 games as he was relegated to backup center with the return of Embiid. Okafor could fill the void left by backup center Greg Monroe, who was shipped to the Suns as part of the Bledsoe trade.