Guard Tyler Herro was a key factor in the Milwaukee Bucks finally agreeing to send Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Miami Heat this offseason.

But what if Herro never played a game for his hometown team and was traded again?

Bleacher Report's Grant Hughes wonders whether Milwaukee would be better off stashing as many first-round picks as possible rather than getting into the Herro business. 

Proposed Trade

Hughes names Detroit as the ideal destination for Herro, and one that could offer the Bucks something they would want in return. 

The proposed transaction features Herro going to the Pistons for Ron Holland, Duncan Robinson, and a 2027 unprotected first-rounder.

Hughes argues that the Bucks getting a couple of useful pieces and a first-round pick for Herro — who is on an expiring contract and poses a certain risk (namely injuries) when it comes to a potential extension — would be a win.  

However, it's hard to imagine a world where fans in Milwaukee would be happy to see their biggest name return in the Giannis deal leave.

The Bucks obviously find themselves in a tough situation, and as much as they want to rebuild back into a contender properly, having a marquee player in the fold certainly wouldn't hurt the local backing.

Hughes added that Holland, entering his third year, would provide the defensive intensity and athleticism that could pair well with breakout star Ryan Rollins and the No. 10 pick of this year's draft, Brayden Burries.

Robinson is a sharpshooter with one more year left on his deal after this year, but the $15.2 million he is owed in 2027-28 is non-guaranteed.

On the flip side, Herro — a perennial 20-point-per-game scorer (each of the last five seasons) — would be a perfect addition to a Pistons roster that struggled without having many bucket-getters that they could consistently rely on last term. 

Herro, who scores more than half of his points from inside the arc every year — despite being an elite long-range shooter — would take scoring pressure off Cade Cunningham and undrafted Daniss Jenkins, the Pistons' only two players really able to create their own looks.

A thin playmaking department is Hughes' reason for the Pistons' hypothetical interest in Herro. Having added four perimeter shooters in the offseason, Detroit could still be short when it comes to interior offense.

Bucks Unlikely To Deal

In a nutshell, as much as parts of that proposed trade make sense for both teams, the Bucks didn't acquire Herro to flip him for picks and potential upside.

At 26, he is the present and the upside.

The Bucks and their fans recognize it may take some time to get back to the heights they were at with Giannis. However, even in four or five years, Herro would still be in the physical prime of his career. For a local kid coming home, that's a risk the Bucks are likely willing to take, for the payoff would be worth it. 

Herro, who is from Greenfield — 14 miles southwest of downtown Milwaukee — averaged 20.5 points in just 33 games last season. He shot 48 percent from the field and 37.8 percent from three. He added 4.8 rebounds and 4.1 assists per tilt.

If his injury woes are behind him, Herro offers the Bucks a little bit of everything and could form an explosive backcourt alongside Rollins. 

The questions will arise on the defensive end. But for a franchise looking for a spark — a bounce-back of sorts after losing its cornerstone — having a team that's entertaining, led by a hometown hero, would be a good place to start the rebuild.